As the excitement settled over the gym floor, it was clear GHS was in for a memorable day. On September 19, there was a very heated game between the sophomores and seniors. After beating the juniors, it seemed as though everyone was against the sophomores. Leah Heller ‘27 said, “I went into the game knowing we were going to win,” which was exactly the kind of confidence needed. Ultimately, it was the thing that gave sophomores the win.
The gym was full of packed bleachers, classmates yelling, and spirited signs. Ava Engle ‘27 said, “I felt a lot of energy and nervous tension between both teams from the start.” This seemed to be relatively clear due to the fact that everyone was cheering for the seniors, “I did not want to mess things up,” said Engle. With the game getting started and tensions being high, it was time for the real action to begin.
As things unfolded, there was an unexpected turn for the sophomores. Coach Baker Conley ‘27 said, “Our strategy was to keep the other team out and get the ball in the end zone, but Joclyn Fortman (‘25) was making that a little hard for us. It was closer than it should have been.” With the seniors getting a crucial touchdown, the sophomore’s attitude shifted a bit and uncertainty crept in.
However, it was clear from the start that the sophomores had a plan— and they were going to stick to it. Ava Engle ‘27 said, “Communication and our athleticism is what really helped us overtake the seniors,” which helped them greatly with their success, “after we really started having that encouragement from each other, it seemed like it made a big difference for us.” It sure was a big difference because it landed the sophomores the winning touchdown.
Looking back, it’s clear that this game was more than just a victory; it brought a whole grade together. Sabine Blaum ‘27 said, “After that timer hit 0, I rushed down to the floor to cheer for our team, and so did everyone else. It really was a moment that made us closer.” You could barely hear anything else other than the yells and screams of excitement from the sophomores.“It was an amazing experience to be able to win powderpuff two years in a row!” said Ava. It doesn’t look like the Class of 2027 plans on stopping anytime soon, though. “We have an amazing team, and I look forward to us winning all four years,” said Colten McCartney ‘27.
