Sports 5 Menlo Challenges Traditional School Spirit by Forgoing a Live Mascot, Marching Band and Cheerleading Team

by ASHER DARLING

Menlo, unlike many schools, doesn't have a mascot, marching band or cheerleading team to boost school spirit and pride. Since its establishment in 1915, Menlo has gone through a variety of changes. The school was originally an all-boys military school before transitioning into a co-ed day school between 1979-81. Then, on June 30, 1994, Menlo College and Menlo School formally separated.

marching band at Menlo; however, Upper School Assistant Athletic Director Buffie Ward says that several times in the past, a jazz band has performed at football and basketball games. In regards to an official marching band, Ward isn’t sure if Menlo is large enough to support one.

Upper School Music Teacher Leo Kitajima Geefay says that the deficits surrounding Menlo’s music program likely had an impact on the lack of a marching band. “I don't know the full history of the program, but I know that the school did not have a full-time instrumental music teacher until very recently in 2017,” he said. Kitajima Geefay indicated that a marching band is a very specific type of ensemble. “Wellestablished marching band programs usually have pipelines of music students being trained in the specific skills necessary to performin a marching band,” he added.

Several of Menlo’s peer schools, including Sacred Heart Prep and MenloAtherton High School, offer cheerleading.

Nevertheless, Menlo has had JV and varsity cheerleading teams in 1981. Also, during the ’80s, Menlo had an all-male cheerleading team called the Knightmares. Their unique performances during football and basketball games were wildly popular.

Sophomore Avani Ganesan, who is a part of Menlo’s Upper School dance team, is content with the lack of a cheerleading squad. “I think the history of cheerleading was inherently sexist, and Menlo didn’t think that reflected its morals,” Ganesan said.

Freshman Jade Yoo, who is also a member of the dance team, says that the team serves as an alternative cheerleading team. “We performed at Valpo Bowl this year and have a bunch of games scheduled as well,” Yoo said.

Conversely, Ganesan compared dance and cheerleading. “I think there is a generalization between the two,” Ganesan said. “We like to group them together. They’re both very complicated and require a lot of practice and commitment.”

Moreover, Ganesan has heard of general interest in having a cheerleading team and thinks it could be a possibility for Menlo as long as it is inclusive and recognized as its own sport.

At this point, Koberlein emphasized that in the sense of spirit, a mascot, marching band and cheerleading team are all connected in bringing excitement to events.

Ward believes a reason behind the absence of a mascot, marching band and cheerleading team may also be attributed to a lack of student interest. Additionally, she clarified that the Upper School Athletic Department is always open to methods of boosting spirit in the sports community. “We welcome the ideas and involvement of our entire community in these efforts,” she said.

Yoo believes that the spirit in the community flourishes even without a mascot, marching band or official cheerleading team. “I think that Menlo is generally a pretty spirited place,” she said. “But I guess it can’t hurt.”

Middle School Athletic Director Joe McDonald believes the absence of a mascot, marching band and cheerleading team is linked to how many shifts Menlo has had in its identity.

At Menlo, the knight emblem isn’t currently displayed during sporting events. “We’ve used it before, and I think it would be great to start having a physical symbol again,” McDonald said. There is a short history of a knight mascot. According to McDonald, over 20 years ago, someone dressed as a knight and rode a horse onto the field for a football game.

If Menlo were to implement a mascot, Upper School Athletic Director Earl Koberlein would want one that had a significant impact on the athletic community. "I'd love a mascot that had lots of spirit and was there to support players and enhance events,” Koberlein said.

Historically, there has never been a