Each year, during this week, underclassmen seem to unite against the seniors to break the powderpuff norm. Often the senior class controls the field in the annual tournament, scheduled this year on Nov. 16.
This tradition allows girls to throw the pigskin, while their male classmates cheer them on. Although the seniors have only won one game in three years, they remain confident in claiming the trophy.
“We have a good chance of beating the freshman; the juniors will be harder to beat,” Micaelah Aleman, senior quarterback, said. “We have a good shot of winning.”
Each class plays two games. First, the seniors face the freshmen, while the juniors challenge the sophomores. In the second off, the winners fight for the title and the losers play for third place.
“Out of the junior class there are only three girls who are not signed up,” Natalie Mccallum, ’09, said. “Powderpuff is a fun way for girls to play football and everyone wants to participate.”
This year each class must sport their theme arranged by leadership in August. Seniors are ninja turtles, juniors are rock stars, sophomores are superheroes and freshmen have a jungle theme.
“Our shirts are really cute,” Emily Schoettler, ’11, said. “The color and saying match our theme. Our class is really excited to be able to have fun and show off our talent.”
Selected football players from each class coach the girls in technique, strategy and cheer from the sidelines. John Dinsdale is coaching for his third year and believes the juniors can steal the title.
“I enjoy coaching the girls,” Dinsdale said. “We have good potential this year and can definitely make it into the top two, but I really hope we can beat the seniors.”
Jon Hall, football coach, will be the head referee for the games. He believes powderpuff takes his favorite and “greatest” sport, football, and uses it for school spirit and competition among the classes.
“It uses school spirit to generate school spirit,” Hall said. “We will play with the same general rules with some accommodations for the eight man game and flag grabbing.”
The games will start at 1 P.M. and last until 3 P.M.
