The University High School Gym was filled with students from every grade for the annual Homecoming Pep Rally, held on Sept. 26 before the evening football game. The event started with the Varsity Pep Squad dance, followed by a shared dance from all the class councils and finally, the class council dance performances.
“The way I approached [the pep rally] was talking about something specific or unique about each performance that just happened or that I thought was unique,” Student Activities Coordinator Ryan Delpassand said.
The first routine set the tone for the rally. The varsity pep squad mixed chants with dance moves, and the crowd cheered loudly. The energy carried into the council dances, where leaders from each grade performed.
“It was great to see the crowd get really hype, especially when people like Aryana Kheradvara started tumbling,” Delpassand said.
After the council performances, each grade took the floor one by one for the council dances. The freshmen went first, followed by the sophomores, then the juniors and the seniors closed the rally.
“I made sure the classes brought their A-game through our morning run-through where we nailed the timing of everything,” Delpassand said.
The pep rally included both grade-level and individual dance performances. Students from different grades worked together to perfect their choreography for the pep rally.
“[The dances] added a lot because it shows how connected a variety of people across friend groups in grades are so much so they choreographed an incredible dance,” Delpassand said.
After the sophomores, the juniors performed their routine. The crowd continued to cheer and clap as each grade finished, keeping the energy steady and filling the gym with noise.
“The cheers from the junior class erupted as we ran onto the court,” Junior President Brian Nguyen said. “I could feel their support behind us.”
This led to the seniors who closed the rally with their council dance performance. Their routine brought the entire gym to its feet as students clapped along to the music. The performance ended with the class forming a circle at center court, marking the final moment of the rally.
“I think watching the seniors end their dance in a circle, listening to “Vida La Vida,” by Coldplay, felt very nostalgic and literally a full circle moment,” Delpassand said.
The Homecoming Pep Rally did a fantastic job of bringing students and staff together to preview the Homecoming Dance and football game. With many exceptional performances, the event left a memorable impression on all students, and we can expect more of this in the coming years.
