On Dec. 3, juniors and seniors competed in the annual PA Powderpuff game, with the seniors winning by a score of 12-6. Boys from the junior and senior classes were cheering during the game and at halftime as they were playing football.
“I thought this game went really well!” Junior Reese Klute exclaimed. “I was sad that we did not win, but I had a great time.”
“The game was definitely a lot of fun, especially as a senior taking the win,” Senior Daivi Master explained. “It was really cold, so the student turnout wasn’t great, but it was an amazing experience,” Master commented.
Klute said that her favorite part of the game was running on the field and cheering when the juniors scored a touchdown after their previous touchdown was overturned. Master’s favorite part of the game was at the very end of the last quarter. “I caught the interception at the last minute, sealing the deal for the seniors to win,” she shared.
While the girls were playing football, the boys were cheering for the game, coached by cheerleaders on the PA Cheer Team. Powderpuff cheer coach senior Sylvia Goelz led teaching the cheerleaders at practice. “We separated the cheerleaders into different stunt groups, and then they would practice tumbling and cheering,” she described. The cheerleaders learned the Colorshout, the PA Rumble, and a halftime dance routine, said Goelz.
To participate in the game, there was a sign-up sheet administered by the SCA. “We had to fill out a Google Form through SCA to sign up for Powderpuff,” junior Amber Musselman explained. “We had to fill out the name that we wanted on the back of our shirts, and then we had to pay $20 to the SCA.”
There were three practices scheduled before the game so the players could learn their positions, memorize their routes, and generally learn how to play football. “At practice, we would go to the practice field and our coaches would teach us how to do runs, play our positions, and throw the ball,” Musselman explained. The coaches and the referees for the game were players on the PA Football Team.
While learning more about football, the players had to learn how to specifically play their positions at practice. “I played on defense and kickoff return,” Klute explained. Musselman, however, played the center where she got to snap the ball and play offense. Master played running back and wide receiver along with being on the kick return team.
“I learned that sometimes it’s okay to not be that great at something you are doing, but it’s important to enjoy it and to have fun,” Klute remarked. She stated she learned a lot from this experience and is excited to do this next year.
Master remarked on her favorite part of this whole experience. “I really enjoyed spending time with the other girls in the senior class, especially because we don’t get time to all get together and just bond like this,” she expressed. “I felt really nostalgic all throughout this, it made me bittersweet remembering senior year and all of high school together.”
“Everyone should do Powderpuff when they are an upperclassman,” Musselman said. “It was an amazing experience and I had so much fun!”
