United in Sport, Rooted in Culture

This year’s annual Dodgeball Tournament — hosted in collaboration with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Pre-Health Terps (PHT) and Who Will Thrive (WWT) — was more than just a fun and competitive event. 

It was a vibrant celebration of community, culture and connection among student-athletes across all sports. Held as part of a continued commitment to fostering belonging and inclusive excellence, the tournament provided student-athletes with a space to step off the field, court or track and come together in a lighthearted, spirited way. 

“Bringing together all three student groups for dodgeball broadened participation and enhanced the overall experience,” said Kylee Niswonger, a senior for Maryland field hockey who also serves as SAAC’s Director of Student-Athlete Engagement. “The different groups added different ideas for how the event could run smoother than previous years, which led to this year being a success, reaching different student-athletes.”

Traditionally, teams have been randomly assigned by color. But this year, in a decisive shift designed to honor the international student-athletes within our department, teams were built around cultural heritage and global representation. 

Each team was led by a different international student-athlete, proudly representing their home country. This intentional structure allowed students from diverse backgrounds and sports to connect across cultures, learn from one another and celebrate the incredible diversity within our athletic community.

Luca Costabile was a team captain representing Denmark. The junior men’s soccer defender is a native of Copenhagen. His team was crowned the champion. 

“My favourite part about being captain was how hyped my team was and how it pushed us through the games,” Costabile said. “As an international student-athlete, I really liked the concept of having our teams represent different countries because it shows how diverse the student-athlete community is.”

An all-staff team also participated in the tournament for the first time. The staff team, captained by Staff Writer Michael Rovetto, represented the state of Maryland. By integrating a staff team, student-athletes and staff could connect through their shared interest in sports. 

“Team Maryland had a disappointing showing despite entering the tournament ready to make some noise,” Rovetto, a former All-Regional flag football player with national championship experience, said. “It wasn’t the result we wanted, but we had a lot of fun. I was eager to get a staff team going when I heard about the event, and I definitely don’t regret doing so.” 

What unfolded was more than just dodgeball — it was shared laughter, new friendships and a renewed sense of unity. Student-athletes who may never cross paths during a typical season found common ground in the dodgeball court, bonded over international pride, and left with a deeper appreciation for each other’s stories.

Events like these are a cornerstone of the Maryland Made experience. They highlight the power of sports to build bridges, deepen relationships, and create lasting memories rooted in joy, respect, and belonging.