SPLASH! Regis Jesuit’s famous Cannon Ball this year safe to say was a hit. Regis Jesuit hosts a special cannonball day for the freshman class. Cannonball day is a way for freshman to celebrate their first via program and year in high school.
Father Eric Ramirez explained the history of this event. Cannonball day has been around for more than 15 years. Although this day started out as a boy’s division event at lunch. As more Cannonball days went by the event evolved into a Co-divisional day.
“A celebration of St. Ignatius getting struck by the cannonball and converting”, Father explained. He explains this is important all the way down to modern day Regis Jesuit because of the finding of the Society of Jesus to find Jesuit schools all around the world, including RJ.
The morning of Cannonball Day all the freshman crammed in the Steele Center with towels around their necks. A mass for the freshman begins in the Z theater. Opened by a guest speaker, Tanner. Tanner explained to the group his conversion and to invite Jesus’ to walk with us in our journey of life.
After Mass the boys’ division heads to the stadium and the girls head to the pool. Tip toeing through the puddles around the pool, the girls find two lifeguards and a diving board waiting for them. After one brave freshman Charlotte Barfield starts the squad off with a cannonball into the deep end, the rest quickly follow.
Dancing, singing, laughing, splashing, all events that could be spotted in the shallow end of the pool. After the girls jumped a division dance party came to follow.
Entering the field to find a St. Ignatius Statue to be found in the middle of Regis’ stadium. Seeing all the theology classes turn against each other in an order to hit the statue with their water balloons first with their slingshot.
Then Bam! A water ballon fight breaks out in an instant. Many teachers told to stop, but it seems as no one could hear. Laughs, smiles, and a couple screams here and there. But in the end, not a water ballon left.
Many Freshmen expressed to me that they all felt closer after Cannonball day. Along with two grounds crew members Audrey Hana ’26 and Jane Wiebe ’26 dancing along in the shallow end. Audrey says, “It is so much fun to see everyone to come together as a community and close out the year”.
Jane also explained a little bit about her experience the year before when she says, “I loved cannonball day as a freshman and I am having so much fun watching the freshmen back here having just as much fun”.
When asked a current sophomore who experienced cannonball day last year a certain term came to mind. “Sisterhood”, Izzy Davies ’26 explains, that this day brought their class together when closing the year.Izzy also explained the thought of cannonball day was to end the freshman year out as “sisters” rather than just “classmates”.
After a successful 2024 Cannonball Day for Regis Jesuit as a whole. The upcoming Freshman will be cannonballing into their sophomore year as we just did the year before.
