While spring rain may have delayed the opening ceremonies, nothing could dampen the spirit of South Kent’s Second Annual Spring Cardinal Olympics. On the afternoon of Tuesday, May 20th, students gathered in Assembly Hall for a rundown of the day’s events and expectations—eager to embrace friendly competition and one last chance to make Hillside memories before Prize Day.
Teams of students, led by faculty and staff captains, participated in a variety of events designed to showcase skill, sportsmanship, and a healthy dose of fun. The competition lineup included a closest-to-the-pin golf challenge, an “equestrian-style” stick horse relay around Lew’s Lagoon, an archery-based water squirter contest, beach volleyball, pickleball, and a round of 3v3 basketball. Each team was also tasked with coming up with a creative name to show their camaraderie and team spirit.
As always, the day was full of surprises and standout moments. Pablo Ortega impressed everyone with a hidden golf talent that earned key points for his team. Adam Chiacchia made his presence known in volleyball, using his height and power to dominate the front line. When Team Typlouffeski was short a few players, faculty leaders Anthony Tyburski and Sam Plouffe laced up and stepped in to compete alongside their students—epitomizing the all-in community spirit that defines South Kent.
After an action-packed afternoon, team scores were tallied, and a rare tie for first place emerged. To break the deadlock, a dramatic, winner-take-all rock-paper-scissors showdown was held at dinner. In front of a roaring crowd, Miguel Juste of Team FK Elite edged out Andrew Mohesky of Team Bass/Johnson with a decisive paper-over-rock victory.
Congratulations to Team FK Elite—led by Father Klots and Colin Hodge—who took home the gold. Team “The Beauties,” led by Rob Belger and Drew Lambert, rounded out the podium in third.
The Spring Cardinal Olympics have quickly become a much-loved Hillside tradition—blending creativity, competition, and community in a way that is uniquely South Kent. Here’s to another successful year, and to the Class of 2025 as they prepare for the next chapter!