Comedy Sportz has announced the addition of five new members to its team following its Sept. 7 tryouts. Seniors Andrew Kathan and Adam Smith, junior Kinsey Erickson and sophomores Rachel Glait and Michael Davis were added to a squad that already included seniors Megan Arrington, Leo Biette and Bill Pfohl, along with juniors Matthew McDonald, Duncan Moran and Kate Urbanowski.

The entire group will come together as a team for the first time on Sept. 28, when, according to club sponsor Jim Peterson, the first practice will be held. The team members will be in Indianapolis to train with other participants from the Comedy Sportz High School League.

Kathan, who has tried out four years in a row, said the tryouts were exhilarating.

“I was ecstatic. I’ve wanted to do this since freshman year, so I cannot wait for this year to come,” Kathan said. “Senior year is my year, man.”

According to

Peterson, Kathan was one of around 50 students who tried out for the team. All of them were judged by the six returning members of Comedy Sportz, who, according to Peterson, were looking for certain criteria.

“A lot of people get the image that you’ve got to get up there and be funny. Being funny helps, but it’s not necessarily the primary thing. What we really look for are people that are able to give and

take,” Peterson said. “A lot of kids have some trouble giving stage, they want to be on stage and want the spotlight on them the whole time. Since there’s always four people up at a time per game, you got to know when to listen and when to take it when it’s your turn and let it go when it’s not.

According to Kathan, the audition process was similar to the workshop sessions that had been held in the days leading up the tryout.

“We just played games and (the veteran team members) observed you and you went around to different stations and then you came together as a group at the very end,” he said. “I personally felt very good about it, but you can never be too sure.”

Peterson said that a “strong consensus” chose Kathan, who matched up well with the qualities the team was looking for.

“He felt comfortable with the games. He knew what he was doing. He had a lot of confidence and again, that listening and then giving and taking was really what stood out for him,” Peterson said.