Turkey Bowl filled with ODA spirit

The soccer and football fields at The Out-of-Door Academy clucked with excitement Nov. 20, as students chased, high-fived and blocked each other in friendly flag-football competitions, as ODA hosted its annual Turkey Bowl competition.

“This is the best day, ever,” said avid football fan, Samantha Albano, as her team readied to take the field. “We all come together as a community and have fun — put the books away.

“I’d say we were playing to win, but we’re just trying to get a touch down,” said Samantha, when asked about her team’s performance for the day.

After students competed with each other, ODA seniors took on faculty members. They lost the battle, however, with faculty beating the seniors 32 to 26.

The Turkey Bowl started in the early 1990s, when former ODA history teacher Mike Sprout brought a family tradition — playing football after the Thanksgiving Day meal — to the school.

Named in honor of Sprout’s own “Turkey Bowl” competitions, ODA began the football contest for middle-school students. Since that time, it has evolved into a cherished event by upper- and middle-school classes.