The Lancer Gym had never felt so packed. Music blared from the speakers over the hum of chatter and laughing as students endlessly flooded in. Students filled both sides of the gym, boys and girls separated, with hundreds of vibrant faces in arguably the most crowded assembly in any student’s memory.
On Friday, Feb. 1, ASB held a boys versus girls pep rally. Unlike most other pep rallies in the past, which have been held at lunch, this one took place during third period. ASB prepped like never before, so the pep rally was full of activities and spirit.
“We’ve had a bunch of after school prep parties for weeks,” junior Sarah Nirschl said. “We’ve been planning games for months, and there’s been a lot of details to deal with.”
For the rally, ASB covered the gym with gigantic signs supporting the boys and girls respectively. A giant pink and blue balloon arch stretched across the basketball court, where students from the crowd and different sports team participated in a variety of games.
“We’ve tried to make this bigger than ever,” senior Brock Blankenship said. “We want everybody, more of the student body and teachers involved.”
Games pitted “Lady Lancers” against the “Manly Men” of Carlsbad, beginning with a balloon hand-off through the audience, where girls earned an early lead. Boys rallied back by winning a basketball relay race, which included dribbling down the court with legs tied together and jump-roping back. Girls pulled ahead again, winning the “banana cheer” competition when boys went too far overboard.
Again, boys tied the score by winning a balloon popping soccer competition and this year’s MORP date was announced. The dance will take place on Feb. 23 in the gym.
The games continued with a trivia challenge between seniors Robert Sweeney and Sarah Allen-Baines. When it resulted in a tie, Mrs. Waters earned the final, winning point for the ladies by “shaving” a balloon before Mr. Muilenburg made it across the gym in heels.
Triumphant girls were pulled from the audience to compete in blindfolded musical chairs game, and ASB closed the assembly by performing their own dance.
Students fortunate enough to attend the assembly were able to spend time together, united as a school. It was a time to relax, cheer for friends and embrace the upcoming semester as Lancers.
“It’s a great way to connect to a common cause,” Nirschl said. “With the pep rally, we can all come together as a school.”
