On Tuesday, December 16, DeMatha’s SGA is hosting a bench press competition. The winner of the competition will be decided by whoever can complete the most reps of a predetermined 225-pound bench press. The event itself will be held in the Original Gym during homeroom and all students are invited to come and watch.
All DeMatha students have been invited to participate in a sign up sent out by Mr. Sicko. Participating students will be competing both against each other and Mr. Sicko. The student winner will get a gift card prize and if any student is able to beat Mr. Sicko, they will receive the prize of a new pair of Beats headphones or a prize of equivalent value.
Mr. Sicko’s vision for the event is pretty simple. “I am just hoping that all of the students who participate have fun and that a lot of students come to the Original Gym to watch.” He is also hopeful for potential surprise faculty entries to the contest.
Junior class representative Jackson Skaare is fully on team Sicko. “It’s hard to bet against someone who was in the NFL,” Skaare stated.
Senior representative Shane Bonanni is more hopeful for the students’ chances to win. “I’m rooting for a student to win the [Beats headphone].” He acknowledges the difficulty of the challenge, though. “[Mr. Sicko] throws up some serious weight.” Sophomore representative Parker Coriell is doubtful on any students chances of beating Mr. Sicko. “The students have no chance,” he says.
The competition itself is part of a larger effort by the SGA to create events and experiences for the entire student body. In fact, the bench press competition is planned for the day after a pie eating contest on the 15th, also during homeroom. Last year, theology teacher Mr. Stephen April ’10 was the victor of the pie eating contest. Mr. Sicko also advises students to be on the lookout for more planned events for the student body, with a large planned event sometime at the end of January. Preparations are being made for a DeMatha and Seton open skate at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel.
“Events like this help boost school spirit in a dead period before our winter break,” Bonanni said. The SGA is one of DeMatha’s most active programs and is heavily influenced by student input. “Student feedback is what we strive on in SGA,” Bonanni added.
