Rate the lawn games

Lawn Games: Merging Circles Within the Circle BY MAGGIE WHELDEN ’28

During every season, the Circle brings our community together as a space for everyone to enjoy the outdoors and play lawn games. Lawn games on the Circle are a big part of Groton’s identity, especially on warm days and evenings. Groton students offered their opinions on these games, rating them and describing their appeals.

Spikeball:

Spikeball is an intense and competitive game, but anyone can play as it doesn’t take much experience. Ava Barbour ’29 said that Spikeball is her favorite game to play on the Circle for its friendly competition and ability to bring people together. Ava recounted one of her fondest memories of Spikeball on the Circle, stating that it was “just so friendly.” On that day, she joined Neve Kothare ’29, Nora Wilson ’27, and Caroline Matusovich ’28 in an intense Spikeball match, breaking down the divide between forms and leaving them all with a memory that will persist throughout their remaining years at Groton and beyond.

Football:

Football is often played on the Circle, usually without much competition; however, there is the occasional organized game. The most popular football rivalry is between LeRoy’s and Riley’s. Riley’s prefect Freddy Dent ’26 commented on the Third Form boys’ famous snow game, stating that it brought his dorm together. Although Freddy recognized that Circle football is often played by a predominantly male group, he described them as “very welcoming” and expressed that he will miss playing football on the Circle when he graduates later this spring.

Cornhole:

Requiring very little experience and skill, cornhole is “more of a chill game,” according to Tatum Friedholm ’27. Cornhole is a classic, and it is very popular among Groton students. It often connects students who don’t otherwise interact. Tatum described the game as one that pushed her to speak to new people. She said that playing cornhole on the Circle is a “time to make unexpected friends and hang out with people you normally wouldn’t hang out with,” thus capturing cornhole’s greatest appeal.

‘Circle soccer’:

When Groton students brought soccer to a new setting, the Circle, “Circle Soccer” began to dominate their post-dinner pastimes. Although soccer requires more skill than other games on the Circle, everyone is welcome to play. Because a soccer game requires larger numbers, “Circle soccer” brings together a big community. As every Groton student inevitably carries a heavy workload, it can be difficult to find time to enjoy a nice game of “Circle soccer.” For Zach Herrick ’28 and Henry Walter ’28, Circle soccer is one of the best ways for them to connect with peers outside of schoolwork. The game’s thrill forces classmates to work with each other, and as friendly competition and interactions surface, the Circle becomes a breeding ground for laughter and a force to erode burdens.