Pentathlon 2017!

Annual Midwest Waldorf Greek Pentathlon Games, May 17-19, 2017

On Wednesday, May 17th, our Da Vinci Waldorf School fifth graders departed for Camp Whitcomb Mason in Hartland, Wisconsin to participate and compete in the Annual Midwest Waldorf Greek Pentathlon Games. This year's Games brought the largest number of athletes to date—145 students from various Waldorf schools in Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin and California. The athletes competed in five Ancient Greek events: discus throwing, javelin throwing, long jump, Greek wrestling and 40-yard run.

As per tradition, our nine fifth graders, along with 136 other pentathletes, enthusiastically and anxiously awaited to be assigned to their city-state teams. After all the excitement, our athletes were each assigned to one of six city-states, where they got to know their teammates. They practiced together, cheered and encouraged each other. They congratulated one another every step of the way. Strangers soon become friends. The Pentathlon was an incredibly long-lasting experience packed into just three days.

Congratulations

All of our students not only competed extremely well, but also exemplified beauty and true sportsmanship throughout the games. Congratulations to our laurel crown winners! Our athletes brought home three laurel crowns: Truth in discus throwing, Beauty in javelin throwing, and Beauty in running!

Thanks

Finally, many thanks to all who helped make this event special for all the students. Thank you to Kathy Paczynski and Jeffrey Paczynski (DVWS class of 2015) for assisting with discus event. Thanks to Maddie Byrne (daughter of Missy Byrne) for being a wonderful judge. Thank you to Nilo deCastro for taking the time to chaperone the students and for writing up this recap of the experience. Thanks to Tuly Faden, our upper grades Movement and Farm & Garden Teacher, Pentathlon Coach and Athens City-State Leader. Last but not least, thank you to Missy Byrne for attending as class teacher and the Thebes "Cool and Hip" Rapping City-State Leader.