By Grant Vandever
My name is Grant I’m new to all the things happening in Wylie, so I am writing about all my new experience! I have been to my first Wylie football game, but last week I went to one of my favorite parts of Texas high school football.
I have to be honest, I LOVE pep rallies… always have. It is almost like being at a concert. Everyone is there for one purpose, to have a good time. On top of that, each school puts its own spin on pep rallies. Traditions are repeated, born and take on the personality of the individual school.
Tubas take center stage
It is not every day students go crazy for tuba music or hear a lot of tuba solo music. Both are true at Wylie. The tuba players got to take center stage and lead the band in a few songs. It was really cool to see the students respond to a group in the band that typically gets more notice for what they play and not how they play.
When the MC announced it was time for the tubas, a tradition started last year, the students went crazy. The tuba section got their chance to shine and play some solo music before leading the rest of the band in some music to kick up the pep rally a notch or two.
Lots of Students Involved
Getting students involved is essential to everything that happens at a high school. When you get more students than just players, cheerleaders and band involved in the pep rally, it encourages ALL the students to be engaged and raises the excitement level. That is why I really enjoyed the skit that a number of the students performed lip syncing and dancing to tell the story of winning the football game.
I think this carries over to all aspects of life in the high school. When students support one another it carries much further than just a pep rally. When the choir supports the band, the band will return the support.
Sweethearts
To be honest, I don’t know the history and meaning behind the sweethearts of the week from the football players. However, it is awesome that the football team shows its appreciation to the faculty and student body. At almost every pep rally I have been to in my life, the football players are involved in one way or the other. With that being said, I haven’t seen the football team have its own section of the rally dedicated to giving flowers to the faculty and the student body. Again, this just strengthens the bond between different departments in the school.
I have come to understand that the pep rally is only one part of getting the student body excited for each football game at Wylie. However, there may not be anything more traditional in Texas or at Wylie. Thanks for allowing me to see another great part of Wylie!
If you have a tradition that you think would be a good for someone new to Wylie to know about, tweet us at @WylieGrowl!!