In just the first few weeks after April vacation, the hacky sack epidemic hit WHS and exploded in popularity, so students have been participating in any way they can. Groups of students standing in a circle and “hacking” during lunch, study halls or during their free time are now a common occurrence, clearly demonstrating that many at WHS are enjoying and embracing this new trend.

   The resurgence of popularity for hacky sack is in part due to its appearance on different apps, like Instagram and Tiktok, where people post clips of the coolest rallies and tricks they or their friends have filmed. Due to this presence on social media, hacky sacking has become a newfound pastime for many students who might not have formerly been interested.

   “I didn’t really know what hacky sacking was until it became popular on social media,” said sophomore Tucker Cashel. “It is definitely cool seeing different tricks that people have made up with students from their schools.”

   Students have also found connections between hacky sacking and other sports they play.

   “Because I play soccer, I feel really comfortable playing hacky sack,” said sophomore Jackson Bennett. “Hacky sack and soccer have similar ideas: you are trying to kick something with your feet [in both].”

   Hacky sacking was invented in 1972 by two guys in Oregon as a way to help one of them rebuild strength and mobility after knee surgery. It quickly became an activity enjoyed just for the fun of it throughout the 80s and 90s, which means many adults at WHS knew about or played hacky sack when  they were in high school or college.

   “One thing I remember from playing hacky sack in high school was enjoying my time with friends,” said math teacher Bailey Fidler.

   Beyond the nostalgia for their past playing, some adults are also happy about the positive side effects hacky sacking has on its players.

   “I really enjoy how the re-emergence of hacky sack has impacted our school,” said Fidler. “Kids are off their phones and outside, as well as kids are mixing and  playing with kids who  they often wouldn’t have interacted with.”

   Hacky sack’s presence on social media has led to the creation of accounts like “MIAA Official Hacky Sack Rankings,” which is totally unaligned with the actual MIAA and was created by an unknown person or people who unofficially “rank” schools whose students play hacky sack and post videos. Despite these “rankings” having no official sanctioning, students are still paying close attention to them.

   “It’s definitely cool seeing how high in the rankings Weston is in the state,” said sophomore Bogdan Chuyan. “It makes everyone who plays feel better about themselves and creates a sense of community throughout the school where everyone is working towards a common goal.”

  The Instagram MIAA Hacky Sack account also posts inspiration like “Spread sack not hate” as well as discouraging players from apologizing after making mistakes. These ideas reflect the judgement-free style hacky sacking has adopted and helps develop new players to the game.

   “The first time I played hacky sack, I wasn’t the best,” said sophomore Beatrice Kickham. “But everyone I played with was supportive whenever someone made a mistake.”

   This attitude is common among those who hacky sack at WHS.

   “It’s never really a big deal when someone messes up,” said Cashel. “Honestly, everyone makes errors; hacky sacking is difficult.”

   WHS has created their own hacky sacking Instagram account called the Weston Wildsacks. The account has gained popularity as it regularly posts videos of different groups showcasing the best rallies or tricks.

   “It’s definitely a lot of fun making videos that represent our school,” said senior Matteo Harris. “It’s also cool seeing how many people watch our videos and support us.”

   The rules of hacky sacking are generally considered to be simple: players have to keep the sack in the air without touching it with their hands or arms, using only their feet, legs, and bodies to keep it aloft. Occasionally items or tricks are banned by the highly respected MIAA hacky sack account, such as their mandate that Hey Dudes shoes, which have a flat top and therefore provide a competitive advantage, are banned. While these rules made by the fake MIAA organization may not be totally official, they are almost always obeyed.

   “People take rules seriously,” said Chuyan. “I think mostly it is in a joking manner. But still, you wouldn’t want to find yourself on the wrong end of one of these situations.”

   While some wonder if hacky sack’s popularity will be short-lived, like many other social-media-created fads, the significant expansion of its popularity in such a short time following April break has made it seem to be taking over, at least for now.

   “Hacky sacking is everywhere. You see it on your phone, on campus and off campus,” said Kickham.