On Friday, January 16th, Fallston held its annual winter pep rally — a little bit later than when it usually happens, but it was amazing, nonetheless. The pep rally was filled with mini-games, music, and excitement. The rally started with the introduction of all winter sports teams – athletes from basketball, wrestling, indoor track, and a flawless twirling performance from Kaylee Hulka.
Next came the minigames — the over–under relay was first to be played, where teams held hands to make a sort of canopy for their participants to pass through. The relay brought out the competitive spirit in every grade, with participants sprinting, some tripping, and a lot of cheering from the bleachers. Snowball toss was next, where duos tried to land their “snowballs” into buckets across the gym floor. The crowd intensified as the duos showed off their accuracy and partnership but evidently the seniors came on top with the most snowballs in their bucket.
Finally, the highlight of the day — the student and teacher volleyball game. First off, freshmen played against the juniors. What looked like an easy win for the upperclassmen quickly turned into a surprise with freshmen surprisingly winning with a 4-point lead. Then, seniors played against sophomores and the seniors took the W as expected. Going into the final round before facing the teachers, the two winning teams played against each other, and not surprisingly, the seniors won again.
Now for the game that really matters — all or nothing. The final match — Seniors vs. Teachers was the moment everyone had been waiting for. The teachers entered confidently, but the seniors were determined. The game was packed with dramatic saves, powerful spikes, and a few moments that had the entire gym screaming. In the end, the seniors pulled ahead and claimed the winning title.
To close out the pep rally, students and staff gathered for the Ice Bucket Challenge. Most of the volunteers chosen to be iced were teachers, and several lucky students selected through a raffle got to do the honors. Just when everyone thought the event was over, two familiar figures emerged from the back of the gym — Mr. and Mrs. McLeod, surprising the crowd by joining in and taking on the ice bucket to challenge themselves.
“I miss them so much,” said Jaiden Gibson, her face lighting up at the mention of the McLeods. She’s confident she speaks for the entire student body, many of whom haven’t seen the beloved pair since their retirement. For students who never got the chance to have them as teachers, it was a small glimpse into why they’re remembered so fondly. For those who did, it felt like a reunion they didn’t know they needed.
