Lakenheath Lancers show school spirit for homecoming

  • Published
  • By Rachael Marion
  • Jet 48 Intern
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The Lancers of Lakenheath High School went wild celebrating homecoming, a week that commemorates the final home game for the varsity and junior varsity football teams.
"Everything that falls into homecoming raises a lot of involvement," said varsity football player David McBride. "From hallway decorating, pep rallies, teammates cheering each other on, and spirit week. It's a chance to get as much spirit [as we can]."

Each day during spirit week gave students a chance to express themselves. The week kicked-off with pajama day. Students and teachers dressed in pajamas, complete with their favorite bedtime stuffed animal. Oct. 19 was the popular wacky tacky day. Students threw together anything they could find to make their outfits unique. Everyone had a great time and kept the base smiling with their zany apparel.

The hallway decorations depicted 007, the theme of the homecoming dance. Each class spent hours perfecting their favorite James Bond movies, and the end results were well worth the wait.

Spirit day, held Oct. 20, is a day well-known for over-the-top excitement. The students and faculty, who sported the school colors of blue and red, managed to contain their excitement until the pep rally. At the rally, the Lancer cheerleaders led the crowd with their upbeat chants and routines.

After the rally, the phenomena known as powder puff began. The girls donned uniforms and played football while the guys wore skirts and performed cheerleading routines. The teachers had their own team, and some years even a squad. The winning class has the pleasure of playing the teachers.

The freshmen played the juniors before the sophomores played the seniors. Both games were fierce, but in the end it was the junior and seniors who proceeded to the finals to battle it out for the right to play the teachers.

The game was close. It looked as if neither team was going to score. But, with just four minutes on the clock, the seniors broke through and scored a touchdown. The juniors fought hard until the last second, but could not gain enough yards. It was now up to the seniors to show the teachers who's boss.

The teachers let loose. They held nothing back from their students. There were even a few tackles in this flag football game. But as before, the seniors managed to score the winning touchdown.

"Of all the years I've played powder puff this has been the best," said senior Kristina Jemison. "I know all the classes tried their hardest but in the end you know the victory was for the seniors!"

Before the final junior varsity and varsity football games, seniors and school clubs marched in the traditional homecoming parade. The Junior Reserve Officers' training Corps chanted jodies at the head of the parade, while the rest of the parade participants tossed candy to onlookers.

Spirit day ended with a bonfire behind the school, topped with a "Burn the Royals" casket. Players, cheerleaders, students, families and teachers gathered around the fire, cheering on their Lakenheath Lancers for the Oct. 21 homecoming game against the Ramstein Royals.

While most fans attended the JV and varsity football games, volleyball, cross country, and tennis also competed. The LHS junior varsity lost their game 0-36 and the varsity lost 6-42--not the scores the high school had hoped for. Regardless of the loss, the student body showed up for the 007 dance later that night, the final event of homecoming week.

"[The dance] was amazing," said senior class secretary Brittany Gordon. "There was a lot of teamwork and we really got everything done. This was the best dance I've ever been to, and I'm sad to be moving on next year."