If you’ve ever listened to the morning announcements, you’ve likely heard the enthusiastic voice of one of the three Spikeball Club leaders promoting their club every Friday.
Founded in 2022, the Spikeball Club has grown into one the most sought out clubs within the WHHS community.
“It’s fun and easy to learn,” Conrad Stocker, ‘27, club member, said. “They allow lots of people to play at a time, and they do a good job with the announcements.”
The organization and commitment of the Spikeball presidents provide an enjoyable experience for anyone who wants to play. Spikeball Club emphasizes giving newcomers a chance to have fun.
“Try it once, and if you like it, it’ll just keep getting better,” Stocker said.
Jeev Sampath, SENIOR, one of the three co-presidents, plays a huge role in creating a positive and welcoming environment for seasoned players and newcomers.
“I chose to become the president because I felt that with my passion for the game, I could grow the club and make it something truly special,” Sampath said.
The love for spikeball runs in the Sampath family.
“My brother, Neil, was a co-founder of Spikeball Club and passed on the co-president title to me when he graduated in 2023,” Sampath said.
Sampath enjoyed spikeball right off the bat, fueling his interest in eventually becoming a part of the leadership team.
“Spikeball has a very high ceiling and can be played for hours at a time without too much energy or getting bored, and it also has a very casual vibe, avoiding the pain and pressure of competitive sports,” Sampath said.“I liked it pretty much immediately and have been playing ever since.”
Under Sampath and the other co-presidents, Spikeball Club has flourished and rapidly grown since it was founded.
“Every year I have been a part of the club, it has grown significantly,” Sampath said. “At the club’s first meetings all those years ago, there would usually be around 25 members and six nets. At our last tournament, we had 70 members in attendance and 12 nets, and that’s not even the biggest meeting we’ve had.”
The club’s inclusiveness and relaxed atmosphere are major factors in its success.
“I think the reason for the success of Spikeball Club at Walnut is the atmosphere of the club and the game itself,” Sampath said. “Spikeball is easy to pick up and play for players of all ages and skill levels, making us very welcome for new members.”
The morning announcements also highlighted a budding rivalry between the Spikeball Club and Ping Pong Club. The reason for this “club clash” is because both clubs meet at the same time, after school on Fridays. This forces interested students to choose between one of the clubs to attend, leading to a friendly, competitive rivalry between the two.
“Now, the beef is for-real,” Sampath said. “Ping Pong Club thinks they’re all that with their little paddles and balls when really they’re not even on our level.”
Sampath and his fellow members put in tons of hard work and effort to maintain the Spikeball Club and keep it flourishing.
“Shoutout to Mr. Vanderbent, our advisor, for making our meetings possible, as well as my co-presidents and some of the other guys who help out,” Sampath said.
Sampath invites those of all skill levels and are excited to have fun, compete and improve in their skills.
“Viva la Spikeball. Spikeball, being the number one club at Walnut, would love to have anyone and everyone interested come and play every Friday,” Sampath said.