Return of Pep Rally Rouses Crowd

By Matilda Kreider The fall sports season got off to a rousing start Friday with a school-wide pep rally. Reinstated this year after a brief hiatus last spring, this fall pep rally was a little different than those of past years. It took place in the gym and included athletes tossing BHS T-shirts to the crowd, and it was required by the administration that skits be more appropriate and less time-consuming than they had been before. Still, the teams and the other students and faculty managed to have some fun. Boys and girls cross country, two teams known for bringing the house down with their pop culture-related performances, started the pep rally off with a pillow fight modeled off of Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” music video. Math teacher Mr. Stonier also got roped into the battle. Sophie Angelo, Cyrene Nicholas, Anneliese Troidle, Marshall Borrus, and Spencer Marriotti are the teams’ captains. Football captains Zach Degoursey, Noah Degoursey, Luke Distasio , and Jake Roberts came up to talk about their season and brought up the rest of the team. They were followed by cheerleading captains Adjhani Benbow and Emily Weston and the rest of the team, who will be saving their flips and tricks for the winter pep rally. Unified Sports, a team made up of athletes with and without intellectual and physical disabilities, was led by Alyssa Sachs, Katherine Salvatore, and Victoria Suppa. The team entertained the crowd with a performance of the “Cotton Eye Joe.” The girls’ soccer team, led by captains Issy Bysiewicz, Carolyn Caminear, and Jessie O’Connor, came up next and got the crowd pepped up with a cheer. Next was a military-inspired routine from the field hockey team. Captains Kenya Claude, Emma Dwyer, Carol Frye, Keira Integlia, Matilda Kreider, and Annie Rapini and chemistry teacher Dr. Chen were the “military leaders,” so to speak. The beloved Dr. Chen was a big hit with the crowd. Girls swimming and diving captains Caitlin Daley, Paige MacNeil, and Erika Maercklein led their team in a dance medley that began with a synchronized swimming routine and turned into the popular dance “the Quan.” Math teacher Mr. Roberts impressed the crowd with his dancing skills. The volleyball team also danced to a medley of songs ranging from the “Caillou” theme song to “Who Run the World (Girls)” by Beyoncé. A highlight was seeing sophomore Erin O’Brien dressed as Caillou, the little boy featured in a popular children’s cartoon show. Seniors Abby Atkinson, Gillian Basilicato, Nashalie Bayona, Madison D’Onofrio, and Sarah Wirtz introduced the team. Finally, the boys’ soccer team, captained by Dylan Demaio and Nick Roca, led an entertaining game in which participants spun around in a circle several times and then tried to kick a soccer ball at a target on the wall. Lots of wipeouts and some successful goals came from the many student and teacher volunteers. Congratulations to everyone on a successful pep rally and good luck with your seasons.