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With the week’s academics complete, students on the California High School Summer Program raced down to the athletic field Friday afternoon to compete in the much-anticipated volleyball tournament!

After spending much of this week practicing, programmers entered the competition eager and with an edge. Prefects headed up the eight teams as captains, and students signed up under the captain of their choice. After three rounds of elimination games, two teams entered the finale: the one captained by Nicholas Diaz-Bonilla (’29) versus Team Joey Esser (’27). An intense game followed, with Nicholas’ team emerging as the victor. 

“I always say a volleyball team is only as good as its weakest player,” said Program Chaplain Rev. Sebastian Walshe, O.Praem. (’94), a member of the winning squad. “Our team did not have a single weak link.” With a thrilling victory behind them, the winners and the rest of the programmers raced off for a hearty dinner of black bean and potato enchiladas with pinto beans and cilantro rice on the side, topped off with cinnamon churros with cream filling. 

Following dinner, programmers and staff got to see a dramatic reading of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, which cast members had been furiously preparing over the last several days. The performers and directors’ many hours of rehearsal paid off! The auditorium roared with laughter throughout the entire play, and the cast’s comedic timing was top-notch. 

Still chuckling and recapping the show’s best moments, students next gathered on the Chapel steps to walk the College’s outdoor Stations of the Cross. The atmosphere was peaceful as the group prayed in remembrance of Christ’s passion. 

Once Stations ended, students made their way to the Guadalupe Fountain for Music on the Quad. There, they enjoyed ice-cream bars and Italian ices while, locked arm in arm, they belted out classic songs to their heart’s content. 

When the music finally came to an end, students walked back to their residence halls to enjoy soft pretzels, then pray evening prayers. At last, it was time to sleep, for today promises a hike and an outdoor Mass, as well as the much-anticipated trip to the beach and Santa Barbara. 

This marks the day’s lone post to the Summer Program Blog, but we’ll be back tomorrow morning with a full report of the programmers’ first outing. Stay tuned!

More photos from the High School Summer Program

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