The beloved Junior-Senior Challenge has returned to RCDS in its full glory. 

A highly anticipated event by the upperclassmen, the Junior-Senior challenge takes place on the weekend before Thanksgiving. The day is filled with fun and friendly competition between the junior and senior classes in athletic activities—providing a reprieve from the stress experienced by eleventh and twelfth graders.

This year’s Junior-Senior challenge took place on Sunday, November 21st at 2pm, between the Senior Class of 2022 and the Junior Class of 2023. Eleventh and twelfth graders had the opportunity to play soccer and flag football, or cheer from the sidelines. 

The soccer game in particular promises to be an excellent match-up with such strong players in both classes. “I think it can be a fun, low stakes day, which is nice,” explains Emilie Ward, ‘23.

In an effort to make the Junior-Senior challenge more inclusive, Junior Class President Adam Kern explains that “there will be no division between boys and girls as previous years have had. This should add to the fun nature of the day.”

The class spirit of the challenge is another aspect. Both classes receive a custom-made sweatshirt, designed by a student from each grade. The sweatshirts are worn the day of the Junior-Senior challenge. Designing sweatshirts is an exciting way for students to get involved in the planning of the challenge, which is primarily organized by the Junior and Senior Class Officers.

The results of the challenge were as follows: the Juniors and Seniors tied in a neck and neck game of flag football, leaving the 2021 Junior-Senior Challenge title in the hands of the soccer match. Thanks to many key saves by Dr.Fritas on behalf of the Juniors, the soccer game ended in a one-one tie. The Juniors and Seniors then faced off against each other in penalty kicks. After about 10 shots on goal each, the two classes couldn’t break the tie. Goalies, Dr. Fritas and Henry Geller proved to be brick walls. So, the challenge was settled by the faculty. Mr. Bates, for the Seniors, and Dr.Fritas, for the Juniors, took penalty shots against each other to determine a winner. In the end, the Juniors took home the 2021 Junior-Senior Challenge win, and the seniors left the RCDS stadium disheartened. Senior Kiki Montgomery joked, “We didn’t lose to the Juniors, we lost to Dr. Fritas!”

The tradition of the Junior-Senior challenge has been missed by the RCDS students and the Class Officers promise this year to be as exciting as ever. Its return truly shows the RCDS community’s steady steps to recovery from the pandemic.