On Wednesday, Jan. 22, the varsity basketball team played a team of faculty and staff members in the gym, with the Staculty claiming the victory, 84-80, as part of the ongoing quest for the Wagner Cup that will be awarded to either Staculty or students at the end of the year.

Over 20  employees from a variety of departments, such as English and Finance, comprised the Staculty team.  Some of the stars on the winning end were the five basketball coaches, who played together during a dominant stretch in the second quarter and grabbed the lead for the Staculty. The abundance of players on the Staculty team may have contributed to the team’s triumph because the team could substitute more often, keeping players fresh and energized. Athletic Assistant Ashley Lyles suggested that the reason many staff and faculty members join the team is out of a desire to spend time together outside of the regular work or teaching schedule.

“[The Staculty team is] a good way for the staff and the faculty members to bond and get to know each other and do something fun,” she explained.

The game provided a fun kick-off for Varsity’s league season and an enjoyable outlet for the girls to show off their skills before their first home game. Varsity standouts Clara ’14 and Lauren ’15 showed off their talent, with Clara scoring over 30 points. Student vs. Staculty games also raise spirit and support for the team by encouraging students to come out and cheer for their peers or their teachers in a light-hearted, low-stakes setting.

“[The team] had their first home game the next day, and [the Staculty game] was like a little pep rally for that,” Lyles said.