On Friday, Feb. 14, Manual hosted a pep rally for the girls’ and boys’ basketball homecoming games tonight.
The pep rally began with the senior class entering the gym for their last pep rally. Then, the girls’ and boys’ varsity basketball teams were introduced and the Crimson Sound Pep Band played the National Anthem. Shortly after that, the Manual Bollywood dance team performed.
Next, the nominees for homecoming court were announced. Nominated for Prince and Princess were basketball’s Ethan Dyer (10, HSU), lacrosse’s Iris Apple (11, J&C) and Charlie Rose (11, HSU) FCCLA’s Nathan Newman (10, HSU), Book Club’s Amelia Fuller (10, HSU) and Dazzlers’ Addison Clark (11, YPAS).
For Homecoming King, nominees included Justice Decker (12, MST) representing basketball, Jack Condra (12, MST) representing NHS, Anthony Northington (12, HSU) representing BSU and Jason Millard (12, MST) representing lacrosse. Nominated for Queen were Electra Lovely Tolbert (12, HSU) representing basketball, Jamaria Gardner (12, HSU) representing BSU, Kruthi Mangamur (12, HSU) representing NHS, Audrey Donaldson (12, J&C) representing lacrosse, Olivia Helmer (12, HSU) representing Dazzlers, Ainsley Ogg (12, HSU) representing Crimson Sound and Lily Kilgore (12, HSU) representing softball.
The king, queen, prince, and princess winners will be announced at tonight’s basketball homecoming game.
The girls’ and boys’ basketball teams then participated in a three-point challenge. Tolbert and Brooklyn Davis (11, HSU) represented the girls’ team, while Decker and Noah Smith (12, HSU) represented the boys’ team. Tolbert and Davis beat the boys by a landslide.
After the competition, Mr. and Ms. Manual were announced for the Class of 2025. Ashley Billiter (12, HSU) and Eli Robinson were awarded with the titles for their outstanding work, impact and school spirit throughout high school.
“[Winning Ms. Manual] feels really nice. I feel like it means that I was able to have an impact both on the people that I have interacted with like other students and my teachers, so that makes me really happy,” Billiter said.
The Dazzlers were then recognized for winning state seven times in six years, and performed a dance choreographed by the team’s seniors. Then, Athletic Director David Zuberer recognized winter and spring sports teams for their accomplishments so far this year. Finally, the classes competed for the spirit stick, which Principal Dr. Newman awarded to the sophomore class.
The girls’ basketball team plays tonight at 5:45 P.M., followed by the boys’ at 7:30.
“Be there. Come support us, watch us win by a lot. It’s going to be fun to watch,” Decker said.
