This Saturday, students from the Circle and Crescent gathered in the Bowl for the 20th annual House Olympics—an opportunity for Houses to compete for house points through various activities and competitions. All members donned their colorful house gear, with many wearing bright and eccentric accessories to show their pride. The games included a three-legged and a tricycle race, a human rock-paper-scissors tournament, a school song-singing contest, and a jump rope relay race for V Formers.
The winner of this year’s House Olympics was the Woodhull House. This is the Woodhull House’s fourth win since the event first began in 2003, the house’s most recent win being in 2019. House President Gray Devine ’25 said, “It felt electric to win. It needed to be done, and we did it.” Chris Bai ’25 attributed Woodhull’s win to the House’s “hard work and dedication.”
Following the Woodhull House, the Stephens House placed second. Former Stephenite Maddy Widener ’24 noted that the House had “so much energy and such a large group, including the [V Formers].” “Stephens was ready to win!” she said. In contrast, Frances Brooks ’24 said that she “did not expect to win,” and was shocked when the House erupted into loud cheering. In Brooks’ view, their second place win was due largely to the support and excitement of the V Formers.
The Griswold and McClellan Houses tied for third place. Christopher Trucano ’25, a member of Griswold, said that it was the leadership of House President West Violich ’25, as well as the “immense spirit and pride of the House,” that helped them place in the top three. McClellan House President Alexandra Raymond ’25 emphasized that she was “so excited and so proud,” describing the McClellan community as the most “spirited and connected House on campus.”
Despite not placing at House Olympics, members of the Kirby and Dickinson Houses reflect fondly upon the experience. Kirby House President Ella Fessler ’25 said that she was “glad to see how Kirby girls kept themselves composed during times of trouble and loss.” Kirby Social Representative Kosiso Okonkwo ’25 added that Kirby “had a lot of fun, and at the end of the day, that’s what House Olympics is all about.” Her fellow House member Alice Kizilbash ’25 noted that Saturday was a great time to get to know her new housemates: “We have some great new additions to the House...We just had fun, and that’s all you can do!”
Eric Han ’24, a prefect in the Dickinson House, appreciated the spirit his House brought to the fields as well as watching the III and IV Formers in his House compete. He highlighted some of Dickinson’s best moments in the Olympics, such as getting “first place in the trike race and second place for the senior event.”
House Olympics were also an opportunity for new Lawrentians to experience Lawrenceville’s spirited campus culture while bonding with their Housemates. New III Former Mabel Spritzer of the Stanley House said that she “loved the House Olympics,” with Jake Sturtevant ’26 of the Cleve House echoing her sentiment, noting that he had “a great time and loved the energetic house pride.”
House Olympics is a cherished school tradition that kicks off the school year in a lively, spirited way and fosters pride amongst the Circle and Crescent Houses. Win or lose, this competitive tradition brings the Lawrenceville community together as a fun back-to-school initiation.