You Better Not Pout...erpuff!

by Gabrielle Fouliard

Seniors better not be pouting after this year’s intense Powderpuff Volleyball match!

AHS’s Powderpuff practices occured throughout the week of October 31st to the 4th of November in preparation for the game on November 8 and for the rest of Cowboy Joe Week. Each of the two teams, the Juniors and the Seniors, were coached by three students in that grade who were determined to set their team up for success.

Throughout the week, the junior foreign exchange students got to experience the spirit of Cowboy Joe Week and the festivities that were brought with it.

“It was interesting at first to watch a new sport, then actually play it myself,” junior Merle Ochner said, “since I’ve never seen or played football before. It was a great experience.”

Both Merle and other junior foreign exchange student, Naroa Laustalet Egusquiza, enjoyed the game and the different experiences that went along with it. Since the Juniors ultimately won against the Seniors 12-6, these students who were new at the game got to go home with a victory under their belt in a sport they are unfamiliar with.

The foreign exchange students got to learn all of the various positions and learning the routes set by the junior coaches Brax Fisher, Zach Miller, and Keaton Hargrave. This allowed them to not only get a deeper understanding for football, but to also grow even closer with the other girls in the junior class. The juniors were determined to win against the senior team, and vice versa for the senior team. They both practiced tiringly every day so they could get as many points as possible and show off their organized plays against their opponents. with senior coaches Braden Wilson, Esteban Plunkett, and Tristan Randles who formed the plays and assigned positions to the girls, the team was motivated until the very end of the game. Up from the press box, senior Rj Vopat comedically addressed the peppy junior and senior cheerleaders multiple times which cracked up the crowd and gave the players some relief throughout their very intense match.

The Powderpuff cheerleaders brought plenty of spirit and energy to the game. They made sure to show off their skills that hyped up the fans and players as the game unraveled into an ultimate junior victory.

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go... sorry, you caught me at an awkward time...”

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays of the year, and I am always so excited to celebrate it. What would one do on a ship when celebrating a holiday, you ask? Well, let me tell you.

First, we spread the Christmas cheer by hanging up red ribbons and greenery to spice up the “holiday atmosphere” of the ship. After all that is done, I get to decorate the tree in the “Great Cabin” or the captain’s room. As I was just about to put the skull on top of the tree...

“No please don’t tell me it’s gone. It’s gone!” The skull has been on this ship for years. I frantically went through every little box and barrel in the room but I couldn’t find it anywhere. I was so upset and frustrated!

If I look on the bright side, I found the old Chrismas sweater that my father used to wear. Beside that, I found many other things that my dad used during the Christmas season. Finding my dad’s belongings reminded me of both the time we used to spend together, and the real reason to be excited for this season.

For example, when I was little, my dad was teaching me how to fire the cannons on the top deck. I accidentally pulled the rope too soon, which ended up setting off fireworks.