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PITTSBURG —
Pittsburg High School’s annual homecoming pep rally and bonfire at Hutchinson Field got off to a normal start Wednesday night.
After the PHS band got the student fired up with the school song, Principal Jon Bishop, a PHS alumni who played on the 1988 state championship football team, reminded his students of what it means to be a Dragon and issued a call to pack the stadium to help the football team beat the Parsons Vikings Friday night.
“Pittsburg High School has a lot of tradition with athletics, and it couldn’t be done without the parents and the support of the fans,” Bishop said. “It takes a lot of pride and dedication to do what you do. The game is 48 minutes long, and you have to play every play like it’s the last play you have.”
Then, senior captains Nick Vacca, Anthony McNeely, Dakota Taylor and Spencer Bernhardt took turns encouraging the 200 or so rowdy students to attend the game.
“We want to thank everyone who comes to the game and cheers us on,” Vacca said. “It means a lot to us and it’s a large part of winning the game.”
McNeely kept it short and sweet.
“Go Dragons!” he said.
Bernhardt promised a replay of the senior men’s half-time performance — in which Kyle Untereker flashed his torso for all the world to see — if the students help the team win, and Taylor said he hopes to see the stands full.
“It helps get us excited for the game,” Taylor said. “We hope to see you all out there on Friday.”
Coach Tom Nickelson praised the senior women for setting the tone of the tournament, and said the men had been setting the tone all week.
“We’re honoring you guys, the parents and the past players,” Nickelson said. “That’s what homecoming is all about. Everybody’s proud to be a Dragon, whether you’re on the field or in the stands.”
But when it came time to light the fire and burn the large cutout Viking in effigy, the wood wouldn’t take to flame. One school official said the gasoline that had been poured on it earlier likely had evaporated.
The day was saved when senior Keenan Carter brought a wad of toilet paper he found covering his car after the Chanute game and tossed it into the small flames.
“It really needs to light up,” Carter said, and it eventually did.
Junior Calvin Thyer that if he was placed in charge of lighting the bonfire, there wouldn’t have been a problem.
“Next year, I’m making the fire,” Thyer said. “I’m from Oklahoma, and we know fire.”
Pittsburg High School’s annual homecoming pep rally and bonfire at Hutchinson Field got off to a normal start Wednesday night.
After the PHS band got the student fired up with the school song, Principal Jon Bishop, a PHS alumni who played on the 1988 state championship football team, reminded his students of what it means to be a Dragon and issued a call to pack the stadium to help the football team beat the Parsons Vikings Friday night.
“Pittsburg High School has a lot of tradition with athletics, and it couldn’t be done without the parents and the support of the fans,” Bishop said. “It takes a lot of pride and dedication to do what you do. The game is 48 minutes long, and you have to play every play like it’s the last play you have.”
Then, senior captains Nick Vacca, Anthony McNeely, Dakota Taylor and Spencer Bernhardt took turns encouraging the 200 or so rowdy students to attend the game.
“We want to thank everyone who comes to the game and cheers us on,” Vacca said. “It means a lot to us and it’s a large part of winning the game.”
McNeely kept it short and sweet.
“Go Dragons!” he said.
Bernhardt promised a replay of the senior men’s half-time performance — in which Kyle Untereker flashed his torso for all the world to see — if the students help the team win, and Taylor said he hopes to see the stands full.
“It helps get us excited for the game,” Taylor said. “We hope to see you all out there on Friday.”
Coach Tom Nickelson praised the senior women for setting the tone of the tournament, and said the men had been setting the tone all week.
“We’re honoring you guys, the parents and the past players,” Nickelson said. “That’s what homecoming is all about. Everybody’s proud to be a Dragon, whether you’re on the field or in the stands.”
But when it came time to light the fire and burn the large cutout Viking in effigy, the wood wouldn’t take to flame. One school official said the gasoline that had been poured on it earlier likely had evaporated.
The day was saved when senior Keenan Carter brought a wad of toilet paper he found covering his car after the Chanute game and tossed it into the small flames.
“It really needs to light up,” Carter said, and it eventually did.
Junior Calvin Thyer that if he was placed in charge of lighting the bonfire, there wouldn’t have been a problem.
“Next year, I’m making the fire,” Thyer said. “I’m from Oklahoma, and we know fire.”
