Seniors only – Yohali Castro
The powderpuff flag football game that wraps up homecoming should exclusively be for senior participation. There has always and should continue to be a playful tension between the senior class during the weeks leading up to the homecoming flag football game, an experience that is unique only to seniors.
As upperclassmen, we should continue to have the chance to participate in this satirical game. I believe that the flag football powderpuff game should be only for senior participation because it gives the upperclassmen a chance to grasp a better sense of the fact that it is our last year at Cathedral in a fun and entertaining way.
As underclassmen, a couple of years ago, I remember vividly watching the seniors I looked up to, participating intensely in the powderpuff game. Senior girls staring each other down, senior coaches strategically coming up with a play, the senior class watching from the sidelines, friends and family cheering the girls on, Mr. Ernst making his comedic remarks were all things that I, as an underclassmen was fascinated, by.
I remember huddling with my friends, discussing our excitement to get to participate in the game at the end of our high school days. The anticipation that leads up from freshman to senior year, and that moment when you get to participate in the game, is one of the reasons why the game’s special to seniors.
In my opinion, the beginning of our senior year, from August to around these dates, should be a smooth transition of emotions. The scattered emotions of entering our last high school year should change smoothly into having senioritis. The powderpuff game is one of these things that wraps it up for seniors.
From the very start of senior year, I, along with various other senior girls, were anticipating the arrival of homecoming week, specifically the powderpuff game. This powderpuff game is one of the things that senior girls will be able to cherish as a memory from their senior year, which is full of nostalgia, enthusiasm, and all sorts of other mixed emotions.
If the game was modified to have all grade level participants, it would all be less memorable, more forgettable, and less interesting. As seniors, most girls have gotten to know each other over the past 4 years as classmates. The randomization of choosing players on the team allows for players to build relationships with classmates they have known as “acquaintances” rather than “friends,” which is something new that forms between senior girls from this game. The building of these new friendships makes senior year all the more memorable.
Senior Bailey Brownlow said, “powderpuff was a really fun opportunity that was given to the senior class girls. It gave us a chance to have fun, connect, and enjoy ourselves especially since it’s our last year together.”
Every Grade Should Play – Kendall Moe
Powderpuff needs a change. Each and every year, powderpuff is a privilege that is given strictly to seniors, leaving out the other (estimated) 75% of the school. It is in my personal opinion that each grade level should be allowed to compete.
This would work by having a series of games, rather than just having one. The freshman and sophomores would compete against each other, while the seniors and juniors do the same. The winner of each game would then play against the other, and the losers would play as well. There would be one grade claiming the title of the overall winner, and the other grades would fall into place as they win or lose.
Allowing for powderpuff to have all of the grades competing, moves it from being a single game, to being multiple. This will allow for more school spirit, as the whole school would be represented, rather than the small 25% that has been consistently playing.
This would also give longer entertainment, as there would be four games instead of one. As the grades also compete for spirit points, the winner of the powderpuff game could contribute points to the grades score. The winner would gain four points, second would earn three, and so on and so forth just as with every other scoring category. This would drive up the competition and give the classes another chance to win the spirit stick.
English teacher Mr. Quinn said, “I think that it is a good idea and would make it a lot more fun, especially for the people watching. The freshmen would have freshmen girls to cheer for, the sophomores would have sophomores to cheer for, and etc. I’m sure if we opened it up to more grades, more people would want to do it.”
This idea is not new to other schools, as most host an annual “all-school” game. Cathedral should get with the program and ultimately allow each grade a chance to compete in the powderpuff games.
