It is the second day of our senior trip, and everyone is enjoying the beautiful beach time and the $3 margaritas that our lovely bartender keeps pouring. It's no later than 2 p.m. and we are all about three drinks in, when all of a sudden a loud voice from behind me shouts, “I need a partner for Spikeball!” There are only two ways to go about this: (1) Follow my instincts and the alcohol telling me to play or (2) let him lose.
There are only a few schools on this trip and although I recognize my new team partner, the extent of our friendship consists only of this interaction right now. “I’m in,” I say before realizing what I just agreed to. Spikeball is basically like playing volleyball with a small net on the floor, and even though I am confident in my skills I am still slightly intimidated to be playing against two “returning champs” in front of a growing audience. But here it goes: me and my new partner get ready with a funny motivational speech put together by the two of us and a series of fist bumps from those around.
We play the first game--crush it. We play the second game and there are a few collisions and times where the sand took victory over our efforts. We eventually lose, but it’s a close game. With one more round, tensions are high as ever. Friends and strangers have gathered to watch the epic smackdown. My partner, Tanner, turns around and says, “We need a team name.” Before I can even open my mouth to respond he screams, “BABA GANOUSH!” Yes. You heard that right. A couple of spectacters hear this and start laughing. “Repeat after me!” he yells to the crowd, “BABA GANOUSH!” “BABA GANOUSH,” five, six, seven people scream. Following the chants, we play a solid match, and after what feels like an hour of blood, (a lot of) sweat, and tears from the sand flying into our eyes, we win! There was no doubt that our team name carried us through. I laugh at the encounter and the smiling faces around me. Tanner and I high-five, and throughout that day whenever we see each other we immediately yell our team name, no matter the location or how many people are around.