By Brooke Loring
WHRHS Student Intern
Last Tuesday, Whitman-Hanson Regional High School held its annual pep rally, in anticipation of the Panthers’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Abington Green Wave.
Planned by sports captains and Whitman-Hanson Athletic director Bob Rogers, students and faculty gathered in the gym for a day centered around school spirit. This year, seniors Samantha Smith and Quinn Sweeney hosted the day’s events, which included a dance off, musical chairs, and a battle of rock-paper-scissors. There were also performances by Whitman-Hanson’s cheerleading team (who recently won the State Championship), the majorettes and band, as well as the Pop Rock Ensemble. Celtics tickets were also raffled off, being won by Rosie Brazie and Zach Garnic. Students also had the ability to “pie” their teacher in the “Pie-in-the-Face” contest. Unfortunately, chemistry teacher and freshmen football coach, John Rozen, was met with a pie, not once but two times … for the second year in a row.
Rally is also a school event loved by students because, while they show off their school pride, it also gives them the ability to show off their class pride, too. Freshmen and sophomores dress in white, while juniors sport red and, seniors, black. The classes try to prove who has the most Panther Pride by being the loudest and most whimsical at the rally. Students also enjoy participating in an event that is “student led,” according to senior Ashley O’Brien. Student athletes and their accomplishments are also honorably mentioned
Following the indoor events of Rally, is the annual powderpuff game, where senior and junior girls, coached by JV and Varsity football players, face off in the ultimate battle: flag football. Along with the game, male cheerleaders can be seen on the sidelines pumping up the crowd by attempting a human pyramid or kick line. Entertainment also included the banter of seniors Mike Cook and Bob Dauwer announcing the game, as well as a breathtaking performance of “Sweet Caroline” by Cook. This year, despite the chilly weather and rain, the senior girls took home the victory, with a score of 12-0.
Being a senior at Whitman-Hanson, Rally is one of the events I will miss the most. I’ll miss dressing up, and getting glitter all over the bathroom floor, and the feathers from boas floating in the hallways (Students of WHRHS would like to thank the event staff as well as janitorial services for the clean-up). I’ll remember the excitement of missing class and the anticipation of the Thanksgiving game. I will miss being able to see the rivalry between Whitman-Hanson and Abington. However, I will miss Rally because it brought the school together in an event of indescribable excitement, school spirit, class rivalry — and pie.