Landen Braunstein
News Editor
On Friday, May 24, at 7pm, the small theater filled with people as the first Comedy Sportz (CSZ) match against Model United Nations (MUN) took place. Eight students from each program went head-to-head in an entertaining battle with humor, and improvisation, captivating the audience with their quick thinking and comedy talent.
Both CSZ and MUN are programs that train students in public speaking and quick thinking when put on the spot. The event had over 250 audience members, making it one of the most anticipated events of the year.
“I’ve been looking forward to this match all year,” said Freshman Lyla Reyes. “I have friends on both teams, and can’t wait to see them perform.”
In a CSZ match, students compete for audience approval and applause by performing comical skits, monologues, dances, and jokes. Senior CSZ student Abby Brown, who has been competing on the team for four consecutive years, showcased her talent in the event.
“To me, this program has given me the creative freedom to express myself,” Brown said. “It’s a way for high school kids to entertain their peers, and forces students to get out of their comfort zones.”
As the final challenge unfolded, each team was tasked with creating as many improvisational jokes as possible, based on random prompts provided by the audience. With the teams separated by a mere one point, tensions arose as the last game began.
“It was anyone’s game at this point, but I was pretty sure the Comedy Sportz team would come out on top,” Brown said. Ultimately, her prediction was correct, as the CSZ students delivered more jokes than MUN could compete with, winning the match 52-48.
CSZ was led by senior captains Whitney Marsh and Akash Mishra, while MUN was led by Dash Clark and Hailey Fiallos, captains of the inaugural MUN team to participate in this challenge. Some students were members of both programs, intensifying the competitive spirt.
Freshman Naomi Dimalanta, a participant in both CSZ and MUN, enjoyed the opportunity to represent one team while facing off against the other.
“This was like my favorite match of the whole year,” Dimalanta said. “Being a part of both teams made me want to win more, and it was just so much fun. I hope we have more matches against MUN next year.”
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