These happy go-lucky teens participate in a high school beach volleyball course of James Earl Jones High School in Daytona Beach, Florida. The school is the first school to offer the course, and it started a trend that is popping all around the country. Although Sherwood will not have access to a beach like these Florida shredders, Sherwood will try to create an environment as close as possible to the actual beach … but without an ocean.

By Chase Wilson ’17

There is to be a one-semester beach volleyball elective available for eleventh and twelfth graders beginning in the fall of next year. Sherwood has decided to extend its physical education program to now involve more “realistic and useful” activities for the student body.
Volleyball nets will be set up in the upstairs auxiliary gym, and it will be sealed and filled with sand to create a sand court. Students are not only instructed in techniques of beach volleyball but also taught “life tactics” such as proper sunscreen application, tanning positions and jelly fish treatments.
“I wanted to teach the kids something they could take home and use every day” said future beach volleyball instructor Pete Siarkas. “I offered the idea and administration jumped right on it. I think beach volleyball will be the new sport of Sherwood.”

The past successes of Sherwood’s girls’ and co-ed volleyball team and the popularity of current volleyball courses are expected to have an effect in the popularity of the class.
This semester, a trial class was offered to those who did exceptionally well in volleyball classes. The single-period trial class was such a success that administration fast-tracked the program and plan on offering up to three periods of beach volleyball.

Junior Chad Riggs was one of the few students selected to enroll in the experimental new class this year. “I liked being able to perfect my volleyball skills on a sand court. This is really going to help out with my spring break trip this year,” said Riggs.

“I enjoyed dressing up in my bikini every day for the class and all the practice I got sun bathing. Those indoor lights gave me the best tan I’ve ever had,” said sophomore Lauren Hope. Hope has competed in multiple beach volleyball tournaments all over the east coast from Florida to New Jersey, so Siarkas picked her to provide feedback and much needed experience to help with how the new class is run.

“I think every student will find something to enjoy from this class, not just the beach volleyball,” said Hope.