Trends come and go throughout the year, between clothing, activities, and even water bottles; it does not take long for something to go out of fashion. However, at Hays High School students have found an activity to keep them busy through the winter months.

Intramural basketball is a trend that did not come on fast or that plans on leaving soon. This league allows participants to create a bond with their teammates and to be more active without playing a winter sport through school. While the trend of playing on an intramural basketball team has been around for a few years, the use of social media pages is what has made them gain even more popularity.

A team that paved the path for others on Instagram is the “And 1’s”. With the official Instagram handle of “and1barstool”, they have amassed over 200 followers. A prominent player on the team is senior Wyatt Kirkpatrick, who has played on the same team throughout his high school career.

“I remember being a freshman and wanting to be a part of something great, something bigger than myself,” Kirkpatrick said. “I had shared this feeling with some of my friends and we decided to create the all-time best intramural team, the ‘And 1’s’.”

This year, there are ten teams, three girls and seven boys, ranging from freshman to senior. The “T.O.B.B.” is the only girls’ team composed of all senior girls. With 85 followers, the T.O.B.B. often post on their Instagram page after a big win.

“Having a social media page related to our team makes it all the more fun,” senior Kyla Schmidt said. “When we can post our wins, it makes the games more competitive.”

The league, sponsored by Hays Recreation Commission, promotes healthy lifestyles for students to engage in through activity. The students take it a step further by promoting their activities via social media.

The team Instagram pages are not only followed by fellow players, but also by students who enjoy the competitiveness of the intramural basketball teams. Senior Lauren Klein is one of those students, who often gets involved by running the scoreboard during the games.

“I follow the social media pages of all the teams. I find them interesting because they all express their creativity and it’s hilarious to see what edits they make,” Klein said.

In the past school years, intramural basketball teams did not have Instagram pages, but within the past year, the amount of social media accounts increased.

“I think having an Instagram page makes the activity more fun because we can show people what ‘And 1’ is really about,” sophomore Gus Corsair, member of the ‘And 1’ team, said.

The team’s Instagram pages are more than just posting who won the game. The teams often engage in friendly competitions via social media posts to make the upcoming games all the more exciting.

“Our social media page is one of a kind, as it posts highlights and updates on the ‘And 1’s’,” Kirkpatrick said. “It keeps the league informed and has entertaining content.”

Social media, used by most high schoolers, cultivates a space for trends to blossom. The trending activity of being involved in intramural basketball will not fade fast and be a pillar in Hays High students’ lives.