Students pack into the bleachers, while loud music blasts in the background. Sports teams gather to rehearse one final time, readying themselves for the second pep rally of the school year. After the pep rally was postponed in December 2025, due to an issue with the bleachers, a lot of anticipation had built up for the January 9th event.

This years Winter Pep Rally rally began with a crowd cheering contest. Despite a good fight from the other grades, the seniors stood out as the most enthusiastic in the school. Performances followed, featuring dances, contests, and loud music.

Some aspects of the event, however, fell short of expectations. “It was less exciting than the Fall Pep Rally,” Nicholas Tieng ’29 noted. “A lot of people skipped, and the speakers were glitching,” he added. Even so, the crowd cheered and applauded for every sport that showcased its talent. The pep rally ended on a high note, with a final few performances where teachers and students alike were amazed by all of the teams’ skill and synergy.

Each sport had its own interesting activity: the skiing team entertained the crowd by wrapping teammates in toilet paper. The wrestling team competed in a pushup contest, with John Leptak ’29 emerging victorious after completing over 40 pushups. The boys’ swimming and diving team held a scooter relay. Among four teams of five, the winning team included Samuel Rogers ’28, Elliot Chang ’28, Ethan Turner ’28, Nevin Stephens ’28, and Max Filipov ’28. The dance team brought noise to the gym by showing off their moves, despite having an issue with their music. The boys’ basketball team kicked off its segment with Harry Spicer ’29 sinking a shot from half-court, followed by the rest of the team attempting to do the same. Students weren’t the only ones who participated in the exciting activities; teachers joined in by competing in a relay, in which they had to run to a mattress, jump, and push it across the gym as students watched and cheered them on.

Despite receiving mixed reactions, the pep rally still succeeded in creating excitement among many students. From student-organized competitions to teacher participation, the pep rally highlighted the skill and talent found within the SHS student body. As we move further into the winter season, academic workloads increase, inevitably leaving many students finding themselves caught in a loop of constant studying. The pep rally serves as an important reminder for students to step away from the work frenzy and to take the time to celebrate achievements with one another.