Last Friday, CHS held its first pep rally of the year to cap off an exciting week of Homecoming spirit and build anticipation for that night’s game as well as Saturday’s dance.
The pep rally started with the fall sports run-through. The Girls’ Golf, Volleyball and Tennis, Boys’ Water Polo and Football teams all excitedly made their way through the tunnel of cheerleaders, further hyping up the already-excited crowd
Next, students spectated a giant game of Tic Tac Toe featuring their peers, with the freshman/senior team proving victorious over the sophomore/junior squad. Following this, the Cheer Team executed a thrilling routine backed by a variety of songs, most notably Playboy Carti’s “Sky.”
After the Cheer Team came the second game of the pep rally: Balloon Ball. Played by different couples in the running for the “Homecoming Court” title, competitors tried to blow up and pop as many balloons as they could in one minute. Senior couple Ava Myers and Nathan Yasharel walked away as winners, popping more balloons than any other couple.
“It was great watching everyone get really hyped,” said Yasharel. “It was a great way to start off our last year of high school.”
This game was followed by performances by Dance Three, Dance Team and Hip Hop Team. These choreographed numbers featured numerous popular songs, including “Range Brothers” by Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar, “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé and Jay-Z and Tyler, the Creator’s “Corso.”
This year’s first pep rally also marked the first of Principal Bennett Wutkee’s tenure as a Coyote. Wutkee made an exciting appearance towards the end, competing in the pie-eating contest, losing to Assistant Principal of Student Services Miriam Worth.
“It was great to see so much school spirit on display,” said Wutkee. “I really appreciate the planning from ASB and all of the performers and groups!”
Throughout the pep rally, CHS’ marching band helped bring school spirit to the Coyotes.
“[Pep rallies] are really fun, I’m glad [the marching band] gets to hype up everyone around us, especially when we get to play everyone in and everyone out,” said CHS flutist Ray Mathur. “A lot of times when people pass us they go ‘yeah, band!’ and we go ‘yay!’ It’s so much fun.”
Some students and performers, however, found the intensity of the volume during the pep rally to be overwhelming and a distraction to the event.
“[ASB] plays music really loud but it’s really the percussion when they sit in front of me and they’re really loud on the drums [and] the music amplifies the issue,” said CHS clarinet player Leon Ahmed. “It’s hard to hear because of that as well because the music is loud and it’s hard to hear the people speaking.”
“[Pep rallies] are boring,” said CHS junior L Ellis. “They’re very loud to people who have oversensitivity or sensory issues. Also, the themes are incredibly boring and the games suck. No one wants to sit in the gym with uncomfortable seats.”
Despite the noise, many students did enjoy the pep rally, including the freshman who experienced the tradition for the first time.
“I think [the pep rally] was fun and super engaging,” said CHS freshman Alyssa Quimby. “I loved the games—they were so good. The lights, the music—I loved the music. It was such a vibe.”
