“If you can dodge a wrench… you can dodge a mom” – Hit 2004 movie ‘Dodgeball’, paraphrased
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Dodgeball is usually just a game, but in Bowling Green on Friday night, it turned into something bigger: Moms versus Sons.
Inside the gym at Ephram White Park, dozens of dodgeballs flew across the floor as families gathered for the annual Mother-Son Dodgeball Night. The event, now in its fourth year, gave boys and their mothers the chance to laugh, sweat and, of course, compete.
“It’s just a lot of fun because they get to come in here and throw balls at each other and just have a really good time,” Leah Sperlin, an organizer said. She added that the sons usually prefer to face off against their moms directly, saying, “It’s crazy.”
Parents say the matchup is more than just a workout, it’s a chance for families to connect. “It really shows the bond between the mothers and sons, but it also shows how bond can also, kind of sprout from rivalry,” Gunner Vincent said. His mom, Jamie added, “They like to fight with us, so it’s a good place to get it out.”
The event is structured like a traditional dodgeball game, but the crowd energy makes it different. The laughter, cheering and shouts echoed through the gym as moms ducked and dodged, while sons launched squishy foam balls with all the force they could muster.
For many, the night has become an annual tradition. “I’m pretty sure 3 or 4. I think it’s four. Yep,” Gunner Vincent said of how many years he has attended. “It’s just a good time. It’s just enjoy it. You know? It’s just an event that gets you active, but it’s really fun.”
Mothers say the chance to take the court alongside their sons is something unique. “I think it’s a really good time to be able to bond with my son and just have a special event for us,” Mom Maria Madrigal said. She laughed that “beating him felt really good. But ultimately, the boys won this round.”
For her son, Joel, the experience was just as memorable. “It was very fun winning each game,” he said.
Another mom described it as a rare opportunity to share a one-on-one night with her son. “You don’t get to do a lot with moms and sons, so this is kind of a fun, unique experience,” Alex Trabue said. Her son didn’t hesitate to add what made it special for him: “Going against my mom.”
The event doesn’t crown champions or award medals, but participants say the bragging rights, and memories, are enough. “We just appreciate Parks and Rec putting this on. It’s a lot of fun, and we want to keep coming back and doing it,” Trabue said.
Organizers say they plan to continue the tradition next year, giving families another chance to laugh, bond and maybe settle a little mother-son rivalry, one dodgeball at a time.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
