The Starboard hosts under-21 staff Olympics competition

Teams from the four Starboard locations recently battled for championship rights in the restaurant group’s annual under-21 staff Olympics.

With opening ceremonies, the national anthem and all three owners on site for the fun, the games brought together 64 employees from the Starboard restaurants (Claw, Raw, Sauced and the original location) to celebrate summer and a job well done.

Taylor Modica, Starboard event coordinator, said she and senior staff started the underage Olympics three years ago as an answer to the midsummer staff appreciation party, hosted annually for the over-21 crowd. “We wanted to find a way to get the underage kids involved, and they all seem to love a little friendly competition,” said Modica. She worked with other senior Starboard staff to decide upon coaches, judges and how to mix up the teams’ rosters.

Teams choose themes and show up decked out in costumes ranging from grannies with wigs to Secret Service agents, Monty’s minions and more. The wild and goofy games include bucket fills, dizzy bats, word scramble, a blindfolded wheelbarrow race and a tug of war, which determined head-to-head what the final placements would be.

By the end of the games, the staff was exhausted and laughing it up as the winners were crowned, and the spectators cheered them on. The staff also votes on peer-to-peer awards.

Owner Steve “Monty” Montgomery praised the under-21 staff, emphasizing how essential their presence is to the restaurants’ operations. “It’s the saddest time of the year; you all leave us to go back to college. You guys are the energy and lifeblood of the fun at our places,” he said.