To kick off the new school year, the Student Council Association (SCA) held its first pep rally on Aug. 28, uniting students and staff in a series of high-spirited challenges. The event, held in the gym, aimed to set the tone for the year ahead.

Once students were settled in, the fall athletes, representing their teams, ran across the gym with excitement. Athletes from football, golf, field hockey, cross country, and volleyball were introduced while students cheered for them in the stands. Before all the introductory spirit died down, the cheerleaders flooded the gym with their Phoenix pride and performed a dance. Many freshmen were shocked by all of the action that was going on. “It was more than what I expected–the band that performed, the athletes that came running in,” freshman Hafsa Ali said.

After the introductions, the first game of the pep rally, “defying gravity”, began. Two students from each class tried to keep a balloon in the air while running back and forth. The first team that made it to the circle won. “It was absolute chaos, and it was more difficult doing the game since it was a new one being introduced,” junior Chela Hess said. “We weren’t told what to do beforehand.” After a tense game, sophomores secured victory with first place, and juniors fell in second.

The first round of games riled up the crowd, and the chanting began. SCA helped keep the energy alive by fueling the fire. “I personally have always loved the pep rallies for the sheer amount of positive energy I have felt time and time again within them,” senior and Spirit Director Angel Labosette said. “I will say that the freshmen this year are giving all of the other grades a run for their money.” 

The gym echoed with voices from each corner, each grade determined to outdo one another, creating an atmosphere that was united in a time of competition. “I hope underclassmen see that school spirit is about more than just cheering or talking to each other in the stands,” senior Kyra Young said. “It’s about creating memories and showing support for each other.” 

One of the student favorites at every pep rally is the staff-centered games. This year, the game was musical chairs, which showcased extreme competitiveness as teachers fought for the seats. “It was literally a battle to see who could fully obtain the chair and stay in the game, and I think it is safe to say that Mr. Hayne has such raw willpower,” Labosette said. After many jaw-dropping and unforgettable laughs, chemistry teacher Kyle Hayne won and was crowned with the honor of choosing who deserved the spirit stick. 

To decide who would receive the spirit stick, each class had to cheer and unspool party streamers. Whichever class was the loudest and most united was the one that earned the spirit stick. Much deliberation surrounded Hayne’s final verdict; eventually, he decided the juniors had won. “School spirit now feels like leaving a legacy,” Young said. “It’s about showing pride in our school, enjoying every moment we have left, and setting an example for the younger classes to follow.” 

Although the first pep rally of the school year has concluded, the school will see many of these challenges again, as they are a part of tradition. “Traditions like the spirit stick cheer, class cheers, etc., are really just constants throughout our pep rallies,” Labosette said. “That is the reason traditions like these harbor so much community yet competition, because they are known and loved by everyone and are the everlasting recognizable aspects of the Rock Ridge spirit.”