SAN DIEGO -- Women’s dodge ball players from Recruit Training Regiment team 1 showed no mercy Jan. 24 as they fought their way to the final games of the championships, during Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego’s first Women’s Dodgeball Tournament held at the Field House.
By the third game of the championships, RTR 1 and their rivals from team 2, Headquarters and Service Battalion, each had a win. With a minute and twenty two seconds to spare during the final game, Julica Evans, RTR 1 team member, caught team 2’s ball for H&Q Bn.’s extermination.
“We went into this game having no idea what we were doing,” said Shantise Clark, RTR 1 team member. “And we came out champions, after we got the swing of it.”
Not long before the game, RTR 1 had just rallied up a team, giving them no time to practice, according to Margie Arvayo, RTR 1’s coach, and Support Battalion’s Family Readiness Officer.
“Overall, the girls did a good job and used teamwork,” said Arvayo. “We were also lucky to have Keasler. She is known for her arm.”
Lance Cpl. Heather Keasler, RTR 1 team member, was voted Most Valuable Player during Powder Puff last year, making her known for her throws, said Arvayo.
“I’ve never played dodge ball before,” said Keasler. “Thankfully, I watched the movie ‘Dodgeball’!”
There were five teams in the tournament, one from Marine Corps Community Services and two teams for RTR and H&S Bn. In total, there were eight match ups played during the tournament. The team that had the best two-out-of-three was declared the winner.
Basic rules included staying in the boundaries, no head shots, and if a ball was caught by the opposing team the team that threw the ball was out and the team that caught the ball could bring another player in, said Dominique Gary, event coordinator, MCCS.
Staff Sgt. Hector Alanis, H&S Bn. coach, began practice for his players weeks in advance to give them an edge over the other teams. They gave their all during the tournament and championships and while they crushed RTR 1 during the first game of the championships, H&S Bn. 2 lost during the final game.
“We had two good teams that were very organized and had a lot of practice, but the end results just weren’t with us today,” said Alanis.
Capt. Catalina Kesler, RTR 1 assistant coach, said while her team wasn’t prepared she felt they did a really good job and kept their heads in the game.
“Everyone did a good job today and seemed to have a lot of fun so hopefully we have this again next year,” said Gary.