The 21st Four Square World Championship, held in Naples on Saturday, May 9, saw 49 participants, ranging in age from 7 to 77, travel to the Lakes Region to play the classic playground game.

In a first for the competition, the championship was played at Lake Region High School rather than its traditional location of Bridgton. Peter Lowell, lead organizer and founder of the championship, said the move was because the previous venue, Bridgton Town Hall, was too small for the competition.

The number of competitors this year was noticeably lower than last year’s 85. Lowell said this was likely due to the event coinciding with both Mother’s Day weekend and UMaine’s commencement ceremony on Saturday. Lowell said he would aim to hold the championship in late March next year.

Many of the competitors were students at Whitefield Elementary School, located 90 minutes from Naples in Lincoln County. Skylar Porter, a teacher and chaperone at Whitefield, said the school has been competing in the championship for the past three years, with students winning in the youth divisions each time.

The adult divisions saw multiple cases of family members competing alongside or even against one another. Amanda Henson, of Falmouth, was participating alongside her son, Bryce, who was visiting from Boston. The Hensons said they first discovered the event in 2016 and, while Amanda has only participated twice prior to 2026, Bryce he has competed every year for the past 10 years. At the 2026 championship, Bryce was defending his title as junior men’s champion.

Zach and Ben Blatt jokingly described themselves as “brothers … and competitors.” The Blatts, who were visiting family from out of state, were competing in the Four Square World Championship for the first time.

“It’s not every day you get to play in a world championship,” said Zach.

Eric Costanza, of Northbridge, Massachusetts, was aiming for his fourth consecutive senior men’s title. Costanza, who was competing alongside his son and daughter, has been playing the game his whole life, and said it felt good to be passing the torch. Costanza is also an influential figure in his local four square scene, running a children’s four square summer camp in his hometown, and being asked to throw the first pitch at an upcoming Worcester Red Sox game.

The champions of the girls’ and boys’ divisions were Olivia Schroeder and Francesco Thouret, respectively, while the men’s and women’s divisions were won by Costanza and Megan Regis. The winners of the senior men’s and women’s divisions were Lowell and Amanda Henson.

Costanza, after winning his fourth consecutive championship, said he felt “very humbled and honored to come to this annual tradition,” and to play four square alongside other enthusiasts, particularly his children.