Schoolcraft High School Student Showcases Competitive Spirit

In Schoolcraft, Michigan, ninth-grader Zak Stultz has been hitting all the right notes on his trombone. As the new school year kicks off, Zak is thrilled about playing in his high school’s marching band.

“It’s going to be pretty good. I’m a decent trombone player”, Zak exclaimed when discussing his excitement for the upcoming school year. But playing the trombone is not Zak’s only passion.

He’s also part of the Tabletop Club, a school organization where students gather for board games, card games, and role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons. This club allows Zak’s competitive spirit to shine.

Zak adds, “If you’re in a game of Uno and you hit me with four Draw Fours in a row, I might flip the table over”, demonstrating his spirited and playful side.

Karl Schook, the teacher who oversees the Tabletop Club, believes that it provides a suitable outlet for students. He expresses concern that many schools don’t offer enough opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and competition outside of athletics.

Every meeting of the Tabletop Club attracts around 15 students. It might not seem like a big number, but when compared to the size of some sports teams, it’s quite impressive.

Karl also highlights the club’s significant impact on students’ mental health, saying, “To have this opportunity can save them a lot of distress and a lot of alienation and loneliness. They can find community. They can find friends. They can make lifelong connections.”

Zak adds, “It gets me closer to my friends that I already have. And it could introduce me to friends that I have yet to meet.”

This story is a testament to the powerful connections that hobbies and similar interests can create among high school students. Zak is more than just a student with a competitive spirit; he is a student actively seeking and creating community through shared interests and activities.