Competition, camaraderie keep champs coming back

A little competition, a little beer, and a chance to get together with friends brings the members of the 4-on-4 recreational league regular season champion Boxers to the courts each week.

After finishing the summer sand volleyball league with a 24-3 record, tops in the league, The Boxers are looking to roll through the season-ending tournament. And if last Tuesday's 15-4, 15-9 quarterfinal victory was any indication, there should be smooth sailing ahead for the squad.

"Everybody wants to win out here," Matt Gossage said.

The Boxers will look to continue their winning ways at 6 p.m. today in a semifinal match against team No. 10. The winner will earn a spot in the Aug. 20 final against either Ragsdales or Volleyball Junkies, who play at 7 today.

Both games are at Arena Park's sand volleyball courts.

For Gossage and the other members of The Boxers -- Josh Stephens, Brian Popp and Brad Isaac, all of Cape Girardeau -- playing 4-on-4 isn't just about winning.

Sure the tank tops for winning the regular season are nice, and the chance at winning a brand new volleyball for winning the tournament is somewhat of an incentive, but for the most part the guys try to keep the atmosphere pretty light while they are on the court.

"They do tell us it's a recreational league," Gossage said.

After playing a three-set match the members of The Boxers will get out the cooler and stick around to watch the other teams play, simply enjoying being around the guys and being around a sport they love.

"It's just a chance for everyone to get together with friends," Popp said.

With the recreational league one of the only 4-on-4 outdoor leagues in the area, The Boxers teammates are happy just to be able to get a chance to play together at all.

"The worst thing about this league is that it's not long enough," Gossage said

Despite having only played together as a four-man team this season, several of the players have played together for years. Stephens and Gossage occasionally play together for a club team in Carbondale, Ill.

For most of these guys, league nights may be the only time they will see each other in a given week. With jobs and other responsibilities taking up much of their time, The Boxers try to make the most of their time on the court.

"This is the only chance we get to hang out with each other any more," Stephens said.

Although most of The Boxers play indoor as well, the sand is their surface of choice.

Each member of the team seems to like the outdoor game for their own reason.

"You don't have to jump as high and hit as hard," Popp said.

Gossage said that he enjoys the outdoor game because it has fewer players, and is a more controlled game.

Whatever the reason, the team's record certainly shows that the sand agrees with them.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 171