By Carly Risom
Reporter
Every year, the student body files into Dunning Stadium for the homecoming pep rally. This year, the tradition will continue with the pep rally on Friday, Oct. 11 from 1:17 to 2:05 p.m. and will begin with a routine from the cheerleading team. After, the team will introduce the masters of ceremonies (MCs), whom have been selected by varsity team captains.
This year’s MCs are seniors Ali Reilly and Harry Stanton. According to Ali, the pep rally is a chance to promote school spirit. “Harry and I are excited to get the whole school pumped up for the homecoming game, and to show some New Canaan pride,” Ali said. “We want the whole school to feel included in on the spirit, and can’t wait to see everyone on Dunning this Friday.”
It is tradition for the MCs to have an entrance into the pep rally. The 2012 MCs, Maddie Rusch and Zach Bubroksy, were driven onto the the field on a golf cart, dressed in red and black, and holding microphones. In 2011, Sarah Mannelly and Bobby Distler biked into the NCHS gym on tricycles, wearing capes. Ali and Harry’s plans, however, are disclosed.
After their entrance, Ali and Harry will invite each fall varsity sports team to present their choreographed dance routine. The dances will be scored and judged by a panel of teachers, who will award a prize to the winning team. “The dances have really gotten to be a traditional part of the pep rally,” athletic director Jay Egan said. “The kids get to perform, and then are judged by a panel of teachers to see who wins.”
The fall varsity teams and judges are not the only ones excited for the dances, however. The student body, including senior Haley Michno, look forward to watching the teams perform. “I’m most excited to see who the announcers are, as well as see all the dances from the sports teams,” she said.
At the end of the dances, the varsity team captains will participate in a game with the teacher panel. The activity varies every year, but has included dodgeball and relay races in the past. Because the pep rally is held outdoors, however, it is subject to the weather. In the case of bad weather, the pep rally will be postponed until a later date. It will not be held in the gym, as it was in 2011, due to seating issues.
As Spirit Week wraps up, the pep rally is the last event of the school week before the bonfire, homecoming game and dance. “The pep rally is a great time to get the whole school pumped up for the upcoming weekend,” senior Chris Thorkilsen said. “I also like it because it allows the student body to come together and rally for our town and school as a whole.”
Junior Lauren Williams also acknowledges the opportunity the pep rally creates for the grades to come together. “The annual pep rally is also a chance for each grade to bond with one another and enjoy the last day of Spirit Week,” she said.
Haley also sees the importance of all the grades interacting during the pep rally. “We are all able to have fun during Spirit Week, but as individual grades,” she said. “The pep rally allows us to have fun as an entire school.”
