Hundreds of students eagerly gathered at Founder’s Circle to sign up for Saint Paul’s clubs and sports teams during lunch on August 19. There were stations lined up from Founder’s Circle to the new dining hall, each of which showcased a club or sport.

Get Involved Day promotes clubs for all students, but it’s especially important for new students like Saint Paul’s pre-freshmen Andrew Beachler. “It is very cool to be able to sign up for so many clubs. There is a wide range of different clubs to choose from,”  stated Beachler.

Beachler would go on to talk about the robotics club and the woodworking club that he saw. However, not every station contained clubs; there were sports teams recruiting players as well.

One of the many sports stations out there was the rugby team. This station was led by Saint Paul’s rugby players, like senior Lane Hamaker.

Most of the club moderators were standing behind their tables with sign-up sheets. However, Hamaker took a more interactive approach. “My strategy was to toss a ball to them and say, ‘Think fast!’ I found this strategy to be very successful because it immediately engaged the students’ attention, and they started asking questions about the oddly shaped ball in their hands, like ‘how do I throw it,’ and ‘what sport is this?'”

Other club moderators made engaging presentations and designs for their tables. For instance, the Wolves on Wheels club sported cars for everyone to see, while the Marian Players theater club had awesome props for students to test out.

The number of clubs at Saint Paul’s has grown over time. “There are more clubs we offer. There is more opportunity now than then,” stated religion teacher Mr. Oliver Sibley.

Sibley also noted that the number of members in each club has grown. For instance, smaller clubs that used to have three or four members now have many more, exemplifying how many students have gotten involved and found what they are interested in. 

For example, the Fantasy Football club, a relatively new club, had a whopping 59 members sign up this year compared to only 15 last year. The increase in interest made club moderator Mr. Nick Guarisco happy. “Fantasy football is a popular game, but there’s no way the club would accrue nearly as many members if not for Get Involved Day,” said Guarisco.

Saint Paul’s sports teams have grown as well. This year, the golf team had so many players sign up that they had to hold their first-ever evaluations.

Theater has grown, too. The Marian Players perform two plays every year. As seen in the photo, this year’s first play is based on The Outsiders. The club is run and directed by Spanish teacher and Saint Paul’s alumnus, Mr. Barrett Baumgardner (’06). 

In all of these clubs, students form new friendships and memories. This is especially true for Saint Paul’s junior Eli Underwood.

“I have created a brotherhood with my teammates and have made many new friends,” stated Underwood.

The clubs and sports that Saint Paul’s offers connect people who share the same passion and drive, creating long-lasting friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.  

Remarkably, Saint Paul’s offers more than 30 clubs on campus.

• 4-H (General, Livestock, Shooting) 
• Boys State
• Concert Band
• Drama Productions 
• Garden Science Club 
• Extraordinary Ministers 
• Fantasy Football Club 
• Fix-It Club 
• Guerilla Wolves Video Club
• Habitat for Humanity 
• Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
• Jazz Band
• Key Club 
• Marching Band
• Mu Alpha Theta 
• National Honors Society 
• Pickle Ball 
• Quiz Bowl 
• Science National Honors Society
• Spanish Club 
• Sports Broadcasting 
• Student Ambassadors 
• Student Council 
• The Paper Wolf 
• Ultimate Frisbee
• VEX Robotics Club 
• Volleyball 
• Wolf Pack Press Podcast
• Wolves for Life 
• Wolves for Wellness 
• Wolves of Nature 
• Wolves on Wheels 
• Woodshop Wolves

Moreover, Saint Paul’s offers more than 15 sports.

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Bowling
• Cross Country
• Football
• Golf
• Indoor Track
• Lacrosse
• Outdoor Track and Field
• Powerlifting
• Rugby
• Soccer
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Wrestling

In total, Saint Paul’s offers a robust 48 clubs and sports teams combined. New clubs and sports are being formed every year. Get Involved Day is a great way to showcase all of these clubs and sports.