Cheers and screams erupted from the crowd as emcee Carson Belmont, ’05, announced the jousting match-ups. The Jan. 9 rally highlighted the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams and helped kick off the new semester.

“”The rally was one of the best ever,”” Matt Brouwer, ’06, said. “”Being on the varsity team, I really think it helped the teams morale.””

Select members from each sports team were selected to compete in a game of knockout, in which Seth Lane, ’06, was the boys’ victor.

“”I’m such a stud,”” Lane said. “”I beat Tara Thompson (’04) and eight other basketball players; plus, I won a gift card to Jamba Juice.””

Many felt the highlight of the rally was the jousting knock-out matches between volunteers from each class.

“”I was proud to represent the junior class in the competition,”” Jesse Madsen, ’05, said. “”I dominated my opponents and was crowned the champion.””

Senior Bethany Moore appeared to gain most of the crowd’s vocal support as she defeated all takers and won the girls’ competition. In some cases she defeated her opponent with a single jab.

Yet the battle between math teachers Josh Tosland and Ericlee Gilmore sent the crowd into a frenzy. Gilmore appeared to use his size and quickness to defeat Tosland in an epic battle of jousting masters.

Both basketball teams went on to battle the Caruthers Blue Raiders that night but lost both games. Basketball next hosts Liberty High on Jan. 13 starting at 5:30 P.M.