Students streamed out of east Denver’s Florida Pitt Waller K-8 school Thursday and flanked the playground, shouting to friends and warming up for a school first: a four-square tournament. It’s a playground staple these kids elevate to a whole new level.
“This isn’t your grandma’s four square,” said Peggy Obert, the school’s librarian. “This is killer four square.”
Music pumped in the background as parents and teachers looked on. Students executed four-square moves dubbed “cherry bombs,” “cheapos” and “the butterfly.” Players scored points with individual moves like “The Eagle’s Shadow” or “The Dashing Pronghorn.”
The event was the brainchild of Florida Pitt Waller staff member John Graves, who came to the school a few years ago and started a twice-weekly four-square club. Graves paused between giving instructions to students and suggestions to videographers.
He ticked off a list of the sport’s benefits.
“Anybody can play. It doesn’t cost anything. It’s aggressive but not physical, and it’s self-governing,” Graves said. Self-governing, because students awaiting their turn on the field of four act as referees. That fosters fairness, Graves said.
The club and tournament drew students of all ages and from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of community among the players, Graves said. But that’s not what drew seventh-grader Mohammed York.
“It’s what’s in, and we are all about what’s in,” Mohammed said.
Before the games kicked off, Graves handed out medals with the club’s official four-square symbol — a playground ball with trailing flames — to participants. Their eyes sparked as they proudly donned the dog-tag- style necklaces.
Students had sent handwritten letters to Colorado politicians, local sports stars and even Oprah Winfrey inviting them to the event. A return letter from Sen. Michael Bennet, blown up to poster size, hung from one window.
Local merchants and organizations came too. A Boy Scout leader fielded questions from parents, someone sold Chinese food, and Kilgore Used Books and Comics handed out free comics to the kids.
“That’s some good four square right there,” said Dan Stafford, Kilgore owner, as he nodded in appreciation.
At the end of the game, one student earned bragging rights as four-square champion, but that’s not the point, Graves said. He turned to sixth-grader Jordan Stauduhar for the true meaning of the day.
“It’s about having fun,” Stauduhar said with a smile.
Heather McWilliams: 303-954-1698 or hmcwilliams@denverpost.com
