Deerfield Tourneys, the group that periodically runs tournaments ranging from beach volleyball to spike ball to basketball, is more than what meets the eye. Currently run by seniors Osegie Osayimwen ’23, Muyi Woghiren ’23, and Christian Reavis ’23, the group has facilitated five tournaments this year.
Founded during the whirlwind school year in 2020 by Bodie Fish ’22, the group initially sought to raise public morale during a tumultuous school year. Ultimately, however, the tournaments resonated with the founder, Fish, so much that he eventually chose to write about the process for his college application essays.
Now, DA Tourneys has become a staple of student life at Deerfield. The group’s Instagram, @da_tourneys, has amassed over 200 followers and consistently posts the winners of each tournament.
When asked about how he got involved with DA Tourneys, Osegie Osayimwen ’23 explained, “Sophomore year I participated in some tournaments, then Junior year it was the first time I refereed a tournament alongside Isha Rao ’22, Christian Reavis, and Sophia Hamlen ’22. And it was great. We had a great turnout, and I just continued it from there.”
After a year of increased interest in the 2021-2022 school year, the tournaments held by the DA Tourneys have been in full swing this year. Osaywimen thinks that the tournaments help build school morale, saying, “My favorite tournament this year has been outdoor volleyball. I think this year’s spring term hasn’t had as much communal feel as I would have liked, but on Friday, a lot of people showed up. Under the lights, we had music bumping, and a lot of people came out and had fun. It was a good time.”
The theme of mass participation making for a good tournament is felt throughout DA Tourneys. When asked about his favorite tournament held this year, Woghiren said, “My favorite tournament that we ran this year was the 3v3 Basketball tournament. It’s probably because I’m a big basketball fan, but it was also a great tournament with the way everything ran.” Woghiren also enjoyed the musical chairs tournament because everyone on campus could partake in it and have a chance at winning, regardless of athletic ability.
Not only has DA Tourneys upped the number of tournaments held this year, but they have also diversified the sports and games played. While dodgeball and volleyball have been staples of this year’s DA Tourneys, DA Tourneys also added a pickleball tournament, spearheaded by Finn Knight ’25 and Ethan Li ’25.
As for the future of DA Tourneys, Woghiren has a simple goal: to continue the work they’ve done. He said, “I just want people to continue running tourneys. I think tournaments are a great way to meet new people, which is why we have rules about opposite gender and grades. It’s all about meeting new people and seeing new perspectives.”
Osaywimen has a similar view; “I just want to continue the tournaments, just making sure people have fun…I want to continue to bring people together through tournaments.”
While the sports, seasons, and teams change, the main goal of DA Tourneys stays the same: to make sure that all students, regardless of ability, have the opportunity to meet new people, have fun, and let loose from the regular stresses of Deerfield Academy.