Developing virtue in an atmosphere of sports, fun and friendship.

Clarkston, Michigan -- What do you get when you mix together 117 preteen and teenage girls, sports competitions and some virtue and faith-building activities? You get the Benedict XVI Tournament for girls.

Everest Academy in Clarkston, Michigan is the host for the annual event, now in its fifth year.  (Everest also hosts an annual sports competition for boys in the spring called the John Paul II Tournament.)

“The purpose of the Benedict XVI event is to help the girls develop virtue in an atmosphere of sports, fun and friendship,” said Valerie Fifelski, a Regnum Christi consecrated woman who works at Everest and helped with the tournament.  “Participation in the event has grown steadily, from its beginning in 2006.”

Girls are placed on teams by age in three age divisions.  The competition rules are designed to encourage development of the human and spiritual virtues.  The girls must practice “charity at all times. Poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated.” 

Competitions begin with prayer, and all competitors are asked to congratulate each other after the game, win or lose.  All girls get a chance to participate regardless of athletic ability.  Teams are all encouraged to clean up after themselves and be respectful of the Everest

	Teams competed in soccer, track and field activities and floor hockey.

facilities.

This year was the first year that high school students from Everest Collegiate Girls High School acted as team coaches.  In prior years, the coaches were usually parents of the participants.

“The change to having teenage girls as coaches worked well,” said Danielle Sherman, one of the team coaches and a Regnum Christi missionary. “The older girls had a chance to practice virtue by setting a positive example and mentoring the younger girls.”

Teams competed in soccer, track and field activities and floor hockey, as well as in a Catholic catechism contest called “Catholic Jeopardy.”   They also did apostolic projects including making blankets for the poor, and rosaries for the missions.  The girl’s voted on one team as having the most charity during the course of the competition.  Congratulations to the winner of the event, the “Purple Pirates” in the Junior division!