Each year Robert Frost Principal Sarah Berka motivates students to raise funds for school activities by promising to do something memorable. This year the incentive was her participation in a Sumo match, with another staff member to be picked by the children. Pupils exceeded their goal of bringing in more than $11,000, and on Thursday afternoon, October 16, Berka and fourth grade teacher Lisa Guseman met in the gymnasium for an unforgettable match up. Gym teacher Eric Indiciani officiated.
In addition to having a roaring good time, the educators used the opportunity to teach the children about Sumo, where a rikishi (wrestler) attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring (dohyo) or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally. Many ancient traditions have been preserved in sumo, and even today the sport includes a number of ritual elements, some of which were demonstrated. This match ended in a draw (hikiwake), an extremely rare result in modern sumo.