With the sun rising on this bright and early morning, the courtyards fill with excited students as we anticipate the electric energy that is about to envelop us. This is not just another morning— it’s time for the Pep Rally! With the Titanettes and the cheerleaders leading the charge, the crowd erupts with cheers, chants, and claps as we get ready for the game against the Ocoee Knights! The school is now becoming a place of unity where everybody is coming together to celebrate what it means to be an Olympia Titan!
As the cheerleaders led our famous chants and the band set the beat, the students along with our Titan faculty shouted back with much Titan pride. Everyone joined in on the clapping and enjoyment, waving their posters and representing our school colors— teal, black, and silver.
Our morning rally sets the tone for the rest of the day, reminding everyone that this upcoming game was more than just another matchup; it was a chance to defend our pride and dignity. Last season, our Titans fell hard to Ocoee in a game many still remember clearly. The loss left a definite sting, and this year’s team has carried that memory as motivation to practice even harder to finally achieve that long awaited win.
“Facing my former team is an emotionally charged experience to me. It’s not just another game. I’m taking this personally— going out there, performing my best against my brothers, going against my old team. I just feel like I have something to prove and just want to show them I am who I say I am. This game will be nothing like last year. We’re coming into this game with high energy, flying around, making plays on both sides of the ball. I feel like no one can mess with us when we have momentum.”
-Keyshaun Marcelus (11th)
For many students, the rally wasn’t just about having fun but rather a way of showing the team that the entire student body is backing them as they head into one of the biggest games of the season.
As a student at Olympia, junior Breckan Russo described watching the Pep Rallies as, “very enjoyable and a great way to start your morning, with the combination of the band playing and the cheerleaders dancing”.
For some players, tonight’s matchup is even more personal. A few members of the team who just transferred to Olympia from Ocoee and are now facing their old school on the field.
“This game is something I’ve been waiting for since I left. It’s more personal to me since I started my high school career at Ocoee. I really do believe we will come out on top against Ocoee. We have a great group of guys who are great athletes. They are coming into this game with a chip on their shoulder and a mentality that when everyone does their job, there are very few teams that can beat us. The team as a whole has been locked in on this game for a while, and I feel like a lot of people are underestimating us. On Friday night, a lot of people will be shocked at the end of the game when we come out on top. The energy we have right now at this pep rally is the same energy we are going to take out on the field tonight!”
-Daniel Stills (12th)
For players like Stills, Morning Pep was a reminder of what it means to represent their school, and a boost of motivation to take into such a highly anticipated game.
Whether students were talking strategy or making predictions about the game today, the main message was clear: the school is ready for Ocoee. This year, our Titan team is determined to rewrite last year’s outcome with the support of their classmates backing them.