Communications High School (CHS) does not have official sports teams or overly competitive gym classes, but its students participate in athletics regardless.
During the one-hour lunch period, many students pass the time with athletic activities, playing a variety of games from basketball to four-square.
There are numerous reasons that students enjoy lunchtime activities outside of socializing and passing the time. Some students want to find sports to play that resemble the sports offered at their home high school.
Senior Maximillian O’Reilly of Ocean Township plays soccer for his hometown school, Ocean Township High School. Although the CHS fields lack soccer nets, O’Reilly has found a way to compromise with his friends. “Soccer’s more my main game, but these guys can’t play soccer, so we settled on the middle ground of football,” said O’Reilly.

But there’s more to CHS athletics than just outdoor sports. Dozens of students enjoy their lunchtime inside by playing table tennis, foosball, volleyball, pickleball, and more. Gaga Ball is a huge part of CHS culture. Although the crowd of gaga players has receded due to the increased workload throughout the year, the pit is still almost always set up during lunch.
Freshman Jason Garrett of Middletown shares what he believes makes gaga ball a good sport. “[Gaga is] all for fun and definitely friendly, but there is some friendly tension,” said Garrett.
Freshman Thomas Daly of Howell agrees with Garrett’s standpoint. “Gaga is one of the most fun things about this school,” said Daly.
Students across CHS engage in a variety of different activities during their free period, and these athletics have undoubtedly fostered a stronger community among athletes throughout the school.