Annual Olympic Games Continues School Spirit Tradition

Students and staff celebrate school spirit through costumes, dances and games.

  • Seniors Bailey Runchey, Suh Yun Park and Annie Murphy compete in Tug-O-War against the juniors March 2. The America-themed class fell in the first round of Tug-O-War, but won 1st place in the overall games.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Junior Savannah Childress celebrates as the judges announce their scores March 2. The junior class placed 2nd overall in Sion Olympics.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Freshman Ruby Wright poses in her STUCO dance at the Sion Olympics on Mar. 2.

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  • Representing Fiji, sophomore Reilly Jackoboice squats down during the sophomore STUCO dance March 2.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Athletic Director Kate Pilgreen laughs as she prepares to get pied in Pie Face at the Sion Olympics March 2.

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  • While competing in blindfolded musical chairs for Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme senior Joileeah Worley laughs at herself as she crawls around the gym floor looking for a chair.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While watching two members from each grade compete in blindfolded musical chairs for Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme senior Catherine Wilkerson yells directions at senior participants Joileeah Worley and Jameson Tobin as they crawl on the floor looking for a chair.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While watching two members from each grade compete in blindfolded musical chairs for Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s theme of the U.S. senior Haley Ulowestz cringes as senior participant Jameson Tobin nearly misses a chair and crawls off in the opposite direction.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • Performing in the senior student council dance during Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme senior student council president Haley Ulowetz karaokes to Fergie’s performance of the National Anthem at the NBA All-Star Game Feb. 18.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While listening to the judges announce placements for Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme senior Margaret Maschler stands and celebrates each time, as the seniors are called last for first place.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While representing the sophomore class in the Student Council dances for Sion Olympics March 2, sophomore Kamryn Rogers dances dressed in her classes’ theme of the country Fiji.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • As the judges announce finishing places for Sion Olympics March 2, the Junior student section dressed in their theme of the country Sweden celebrates as they are announced as second.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • Performing in the senior student council dance during Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme senior student council member Aidan McEnerney focuses hard on the dance which placed 1st.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While watching four members from each grade compete in tug-of-war for Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme senior srceam team leader Mandy Mayer laughs with her classmates as the seniors compete.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While competing in blindfolded musical chairs for Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme senior Jameson Tobin laughs at herself as she hears the screams of her classmates giving her inaudible directions.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While competing in tug-of-war for Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in their grade’s theme of the country Fiji sophomores Felicia Knox and Maddy Anstoetter laugh as they pull and eventually win against the freshmen.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • Performing in the senior student council dance during Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in their grade’s America theme senior student council members pose as Green Day’s “American Idiot” begins to play.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While performing in the senior student council dance during Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme senior student council members Chigozie Okuagu and Mariah Lynn perform a part of their dance referencing a popular vine.

    PHOTO | Paige RItter
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  • After throwing off her jacket during the junior Student Council dance for Sion Olympics March 2, dance dressed in her classes’ theme of the country Sweden junior Chandler Rawson holds her pose before finishing their dance which placed 2nd.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While watching two members from each grade compete in blindfolded musical chairs for Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s theme of the country Fiji sophomore Caroline Knopke laughs as the participants crawl around the gym floor looking for a chair.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While watching two members from each grade compete in blindfolded musical chairs for Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme senior Melissa Hamilton cheers on the senior participants as they crawl around the gym floor nearly making it to a chair.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While watching two members from each grade compete in blindfolded musical chairs for Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme seniors Melissa Hamilton and Haley Ulowetz celebrate as senior participants Joileeah Worley and Jameson Tobin both make it on to the next round.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While watching four members from each grade compete in tug-of-war for Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s theme of the country Fiji sophomore Brie Bows celebrates in front of the student section as the sophomores compete.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While competing in a relay race during Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s theme of the country Fiji sophomore Holly Frey pushes her scooter with only her legs with a basketball in between them to meet three other classmates at the other side of the gym.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • Performing in the senior student council dance during Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme senior student council member Mary Evans focuses hard on the dance which placed 1st.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • Competing in a relay race during Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s theme of the country Sweden junior Emma Cruciani runs the basketball to the Scream Team leaders to receive her student section’s scavenger hunt item.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • As the sophomore Student Council dances for Sion Olympics March 2., sophomore Brie Bowes dances dressed in her classes’ theme of the country Fiji.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • While watching two members from each grade compete in blindfolded musical chairs for Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme senior Peyton Dow laughs as the participants crawl around the gym floor looking for a chair.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • Senior Mary Evans balances atop senior Sarah Totta while the other senior STUCO members watch March 2.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • While waiting for the junior student council dance to be judged during Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s theme of the country Sweden junior Gretta Allen laughs at judge and math teacher Reynold Middleton’s comments on their performance.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • Senior Megan Breckenridge cheers for the senior STUCO members performing in the dance-off March 2. The senior class placed 1st in this competition.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Senior Meredith Oswald holds up a classmates shoe as she celebrates winning the relay race in the Sion Olympics on Mar. 2.

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  • While waiting for the junior student council dance to be judged during Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s theme of the country Sweden junior Suki Arnold smiles up at the junior student section.

    PHOTO | Paige Ritter
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  • Before the senior student council members perform their dance during Sion Olympics March 2, dressed in her grade’s America theme senior scream team leader Mandy Mayer announces their entrance to the student section.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Junior Mia McLey anchors the junior team in a Tug-O-War game March 2. The juniors defeated the seniors, but then fell to the sophomores in the final round.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Senior Mary Evans dances along to “Footloose” during the senior dance March 2. Evans was a large part in choreographing the STUCO dance.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Physical Education and cheer coach Lisa Lauck holds up a paper with her answer written for Pie Face Trivia March 2. Participants got a plate of whipped cream to the face for each incorrect answer they gave.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Ushering in the senior STUCO members for their performance in the dance-off, senior Afton Fennewald acts as a body guard March 2.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Senior Lauren Ismert celebrates the senior victory while grinning atop a table used for a game.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Sophomore Kamryn Rogers dougies in the STUCO Fiji dance during Sion Olmypics on Mar. 2.

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  • Seniors Haley Ulowetz and Sarah Totta laugh while watching the junior STUCO members perform in the dance-off March 2.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Sophomore Kamryn Rogers walks to the middle of the gym draped in Fiji’s flag after winning third in the Sion Olympics March 2.

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  • Senior Livy Wood fixes her American flag face paint after the judges announced the senior victory March 2.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Senior Loulya Alabed smiles to fellow STUCO members after catching her breath from their dance at Sion Olympics on March 2.

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  • Senior Kathleen Tushaus laughs as she records Blindfolded Musical Chairs at Sion Olympics on March 2.

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  • Seniors Chigozie Okuagu and Carolyn Dickey help senior Haley Ulowetz down steps made of fellow senior STUCO members during their dance March 2. Ulowetz lip-synched Fergie’s rendition of the National Anthem.

    PHOTO | Lanie Jones
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  • Freshman Gabby Gaither laughs with pie covering her face in Pie Face at the Sion Olympics on March 2.

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  • Freshman STUCO members begin their Sion Olympics dance March 2. They were the first class to compete in the dance-off, representing their country, Brazil.

    PHOTO | lanie jones
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  • Senior Emma Cosner smiles to her friends in the stands before the Pie Face game at Sion Olympics on March 2.

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The seniors, who represented the United States, won the annual school-wide Olympic games decked out in red, white and blue Friday, March 2. Colors representing Sweden, Fiji and Brazil also filled the bleachers in the gym for the class competition. Students dressed up in theme for their countries and members of Student Council decorated class hallways.

“We didn’t have a lot of time to decorate the night before,” sophomore Kamryn Rogers said. “I think it made it more exciting for everyone to decorate in the morning because we were able to hand out leis and we had a dance party which was a great way to start the day.”

The games were kicked off with an opening ceremony of STUCO members from each grade performing self-choreographed dances. Teacher judges Reynold Middleton, Sarah Johnson and Jenny Campbell gave scores after each dance for the first round of competition among grades.

“My favorite part was the dance,” junior Lilly Concannon said. “I loved being lifted into the air and I winked at my grade.”

Scream team leaders seniors Aidan McEnerney, Mary Evans and Mandy Mayer planned a series of games to play from a relay race to Olympic trivia that included teachers as well. A twist on musical chairs that had participants blindfolded and crawling on the floor searching for chairs deemed the most popular as students and faculty stood laughing uncontrollably according to STUCO sponsor and history teacher Jenny Brown-Howerton.

“The musical chairs was hilarious,” Brown-Howerton said. “I was laughing so hard my cheeks were hurting.”

The Olympics are a tradition that brings school spirit and friendly competition together with the entire school.

“I think it’s all about school spirit and building a sense of community and having a good time,” Brown-Howerton said.

This event marks the last Olympic games for the senior class, bringing lasting memories and emotions for executive student body president Carolyn Dickey.

“It is kind of bittersweet because it’s a really long process of planning and meeting, but for it to be our last one even though sometimes you dread doing all these things,” Dickey said. “It’s hard but all good things come to an end.”

As the games ended, the seniors came out on top with the juniors in second, and the 2018 games closed with students belting the school song.

“STUCO has meant a lot to me and it’s been a great year, but onto new things,” Dickey said.