Manual hosted its annual winter pep rally in honor of basketball homecoming on Friday. Later that night, the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams faced off against Shawnee, followed by a Winter Wonderland-themed dance at Manual.
The basketball teams were introduced and brought onto the gym floor to kick off the pep rally. The national anthem was sung by Nariah Moore Grubs (10, YPAS), and Cooper Walton (12, J&C) and Leo Tobbe (12, J&C) introduced the senior class.
There were multiple competitions between grade levels, including a Hungry Hungry Hippo-style game and a basketball relay, featuring players from both the girls’ and boys’ teams. The seniors won Hungry Hungry Hippo and the sophomores were victorious in the basketball relay.
Next came a performance by the cheer team, followed by introducing the homecoming court and declaring the winners. There were nominees from multiple clubs and sports across Manual, and the winners were determined by a student vote taken throughout Thursday and Friday. Charlie Flowers (12, MST), representing track and field, and Savannah Bennett (12, HSU), representing the Dazzlers, were crowned homecoming king and queen. Petra Limbong (11, HSU), representing NHS, and Yewande Adu (11, J&C), representing yearbook, were crowned prince and princess.
Following the homecoming court announcements, the Dazzlers dance team, who recently returned from Nationals, performed.
As the pep rally concluded, Tobbe and Walton led the grades in the traditional “Red-White” chant in which the grades compete against one another for the spirit stick. In the end, the stick was awarded to the senior class.
Both the boys’ and girls’ teams won in their games against Shawnee.
