By Joey Lavoie

Per Warrior tradition, I was told to write a column about high school and what happened during my 736 school days in Sandy Spring. I started thinking and came to the conclusion that there was no possible way I could do it in 450 words or so. Then I thought I could write about my ridiculous numbers of nicknames or the long list of moments I’m for some reason known for in these halls. In the end I decided the most entertaining way I could sum up my high school experience is to talk about a little thing called a meatspin.

The first meatspin took place at my dear friend Peter Simala’s house in the spring of my junior year, and since then there has been a stronger connection between us brothers. The group is formed of about 10 boys doing what they love most playing basketball, chilling, and barbequing. On a warm March Friday all of us were leaving school just trying to find something to do like almost every person at Sherwood does once the weather begins towarm up. We decided to head down to the local Harris Teeter and grab a ridiculous amount of meat and chips and drinks and spend our afternoon at the Simala residence. After playing a 2 v. 2 basketball tournament for an hour or two we headed around back to start forming some burgers for grilling. This is what every man enjoys doing.

After the day had run its course, we all decided that it should really become a monthly thing, as a way trying to keep the boys together during our last few months.

Yes, this didn’t exactly work out but it honestly meant more to all of us than just a bunch of guys sitting around a grill. It really signified like a coming together between a group of guys that would form into a brotherhood. Spending that sunny afternoon down on Littlebrook Ct. was one of the best things that could have possibility happened to all our friendship. But overall, what it signified more is the beginning of the end.

That is the part that has hit me the hardest as I sit here doing my final edits on this article, now having just eight days, 46 periods remaining in my high school life. In about three hours this group of guys will be coming back together for one of the final times as Warriors’.

I’ve realized that over my last four years at Sherwood I have met some amazing people, done some incredible things and have spent some great times with my friends. But the biggest thing I’m going to miss when I head down to Columbia to go to University of South Carolina will be that group of guys that it all started with, and all I can ask for before leaving the town I called home for 18 years, is to have one last meatspin at the Simala residence on my last day at home.