by Elia McKnight, Electrical Occupations Class of 2023

Shop games have become an annual LCCTC tradition. Every year, each shop competes to see who becomes the “Sultan of Swat” — the “Titan of Terror” — the “Colossus of Clout” — the “King of Crash” . . . except it’s not baseball they’re playing.

LCCTC’s Shop Games consist of true competitions like Bolt Stacking, the Hula Hoop Pass-Through, and Frisbee in a Hula Hoop Toss. Our kids were out there competing in a Sack Race, Pencils in a Cup, and Cups on a Table. Don’t forget the 3-Legged Race, the Rubber Band Cup, and the Balloon Pop. Was there anything we forgot? Oh yes — who can forget the Egg and Spoon Race? Overseen by the “head referee”, Mr. Milanovich, and through laughter and sweat and true grit, each shop fought tooth and nail to see who could claim to be King of the Hill — with the ultimate prize — the famous (or should we say, “infamous”) Golden Eagle Statue!!!

“This day is fun,” states Mr. Ovial, co-advisor of Peer Leadership, “because I get to take a step back and watch the relationships that have been built in one year, 2 years, and 3 years between the students and vocational teachers and amongst the students themselves.”

Mr. DeRosa, Commercial Arts Instructor states, “It was rejuvenating to see so many staff and students smiling and enjoying themselves.”

Mr. Pavia, Health Assistant instructor shared with his students, “In competition, very much like life, you come across obstacles. I was proud at how you overcame them, and pushed through, and finished.”

“Everyone doesn’t earn first place, and that’s always a valuable lesson in life,” Pavia continues. “It’s just as important to know how to lose as it is to know how to win. With each, there’s a right way and a wrong way. Win or lose the right way.”

Between laughter, grass-stains, and a little gym-floor friction, each competitor pushed their way to the very end . . . and in the end . . . the shops who earned the top three spots were . . . (drumroll please!):

In third place — Construction Trades, who used their building-trades shop experience to build a solid plan and firm foundation, working together to concentrate their strengths. In second place — Health Assistant demolished onlookers and other competing teams by applying their usual shop-focused determination to the games and coming to their teammates’ aid when necessary. And finally . . . LCCTC’s shop game champions . . . for the 2021-2022 school year . . . was . . . Electrical Occupations, who electrified the field and school as a whole! EO seriously knows how to rock the games! Let’s give a hearty round of applause to our well-deserved winners! Thank you to those who put their best foot forward for making this year’s shop games one of the most fun yet! Which shop will take the coveted eagle trophy home next year?

I think we can all agree that this year’s shop games competition was a fantastic way to wrap up the school year and make happy last memories of high school for graduating seniors.