Every year, during November a select few of senior girls battle against the teachers on the football field in a game of Powder Puff. A couple football player’s stepped in as coaches and scheduled practices and created plays for the player’s. Lori Rooney, the family consumer science teacher and track coach, was one of the teachers participating in the game against the seniors. Although she played both offense and defense, she was mainly the running back for the teachers.
“I play every year for Powder Puff. I think it’s an amazing experience and it’s a chance for teachers and students to get to interact on a different level,” Rooney said. “Playing a friendly competitive game just makes teachers seem more like real people rather than authorities in the classroom, which we are, but it’s just fun to get to go compete and do something fun with the students like that.”
While Mrs. Rooney reflected on her experience as a teacher playing the game, senior Hannah Easterling recollects her experience playing as a student. As the senior girl’s scored touchdowns and moved yards, Easterling and her fellow teammates created routines to help celebrate.
“My favorite part of the game was the routines. Also, everyone’s energy throughout the game was amazing,” Easterling said. “Me and Lauren Williams were kind of like a duo during the whole game and we had celebrations that we did together and that was really fun.”
Easterling urges anyone who can join the powder puff game their senior year to sign up and play.
“I would recommend anyone that has the opportunity to play the game,” Easterling said. “I got to build closer bonds with my friends and it was just a really memorable experience for a senior.”
Esmeralda Macias, another senior who took part in the game, was the quarterback for the senior team. Along with Easterling, Macias was able to connect with her teammates, some of whom she is not normally able to spend time with, and had a good time throughout the process.
“I think the whole experience was so fun. Practicing and going to spend time with the senior girls was exciting and our coaches were super fun too,” Macias said. “It was definitely something to look forward to, to just spend time with each other because I don’t get to see a lot of the girls most of the time, and I got to reunite with them and play alongside them.”
While the players are able to reminisce on their time playing in the game, their coach Wyatt Gardisser, is able to look at his takeaway from the game from a coach’s point of view.
“Playing football all my life definitely helped with this, and being a leader on the team helped me as well in things like communication,” Gardisser said. “I thought this event was so amazing and I enjoyed it so much. There were so many memories made, and I felt like I made friends along the way.”
While students and teachers got to have a memorable experience playing football together, it would not have been possible without the planning of this event. Senior Class Council President, Ethana Hang was the overall planner of the game.
“My main role for the Powder Puff game was planning,” Hang said. “I was so busy getting the coaches together, organizing the announcers, and I made sure that the players were set and teachers were set. So I was mainly involved in facilitating the whole thing.”
With a lot on her plate, Hang had to balance her work load throughout the month. Not only was she preparing for how the game was going to run, she was preparing for all the senior girl’s wanting to play.
“Many seniors were wanting to participate this year, and it was a challenge picking people to play because I didn’t want anyone missing out on this memorable senior experience, so we ended up having around 25 girls participate.”
Hang put a lot of time and effort into making the experience memorable for the seniors as well as the teachers. By the end of the process, everyone having fun made her role in the event an enjoyable experience for her.
“I think it went very well, I think everyone had a lot of fun and the girls really enjoyed it,” Hang said. “I’m very proud and very pleased with this year’s game.”