October 31, 2022 by Ciara Meyer ’23
On Friday, October 28, after three long years of covid-inhibited school spirit, Saratoga Springs High School (SSHS) students went all out for SSHS’ first pep rally since 2019. The energy in the Blue Gym was palpable as nearly 2000 students packed into the bleachers to show their Blue Streak pride.
Event planning was an entirely student-led effort, with Student Council (STUCO) leaders taking the lead on selecting decor (bedazzled class banners), running activities (musical chairs, tug-of-war, and donut eating amongst others), and emceeing the event. STUCO advisor Joshua Johnson said, “I think it was very successful, especially since I didn’t do anything or help direct them.”
Despite some technical difficulties and a slightly glitchy sound system, the rally ran fairly smoothly. At around 1:30, after students were comfortably settled on the Blue Gym bleachers, SSHS’ student-athletes entered the gym to a soundtrack of chants and cheers. SSHS varsity tennis player, senior Sofia Stanko said, “I think the walk-in was really good, it was pretty hype and I think it went really well.”
Once the athletes were seated in their respective class sections, the SSHS Cheerleaders gave a memorable performance filled with flips and tricks, followed by a dance section to Gas Pedal by Sage the Gemini. With the crowd sufficiently hyped up, the STUCO-organized games began. STUCO member Kate Thompson said they picked the specific events because “the games were fun and accessible, easy things that everybody knows.”
The first game was musical chairs, with junior Adam O’Conner snatching a controversial victory. Participant Casey Everett felt “robbed” of the win, saying, “I was already sitting in a chair. I feel like I lost that opportunity. Chris [Gidwani] was also robbed.” The senior section seemed to agree with Everett with cries of “it’s rigged” ringing out when O’Conner was crowned champion.
The seniors were no better off during the next game, a relay race in which the freshmen were victorious and senior Leydon Hemsworth wiped out head first into the Blue Gym wall. In Tug-of-War the combined junior/sophomore team defeated the seniors and freshman before losing to the SSHS staff team.
The final event, donut eating, marked the clearest departure from covid protocol. Students were charged with eating donuts off of a string, without using their hands or letting the donuts fall to the floor. Senior James O’Connell arose victoriously. His win wasn’t without controversy, though, with fellow competitor Brady Reynolds saying, “Kate [Thompson] really made me think that I won. I did feel deceived.” Reynolds did, however, give O’Connell some credit, saying, “my fellow senior opponent and eventual winner of the donut-eating contest, James O’Connell, was a worthy adversary.”
In spite of disputed game results, the pep rally was met with good reviews from teachers and students alike. “I thought the pep rally was awesome,” said substitute teacher and SSHS alumni, David Snyder. “Compared to when I went here, I thought that there was much more school spirit in a positive, unironic sense. I also appreciated how much nicer all the classes were to each other, because when I was a student here it was very adversarial.”
Senior Grace Herzog was also a fan of the event, and said, “I think that the pep rally was so intense that it felt like we were all zapped by lightning rods.” Underclassman Liam D’Evelyn summed things up a bit more simply saying, “it was loud but exciting.”
Some students found the noise to be a bit too much, with junior Amaliah Turner saying, “I don’t really care for pep rallies. It was so loud.” The screams and cheers, though not universally beloved, were an integral part of the rally—with multiple screaming contests occurring between classes.
For seniors, the chance to scream and shout and show their school spirit was bittersweet. Senior Sierra Borden said, “I’ve only been to one [pep rally] in my freshman year and I was so sad that the rest were canceled, but this one was top tier. STUCO definitely pulled it off.”
Through STUCO’s hard work and some friendly inter-class competition, the pep rally truly brought together the SSHS community. “It feels really good, like we are all connected as students,” said senior Sofia Anzaroot. “It’s an awesome feeling to be a part of something like this.”