Carson Clabeaux, a sophomore at Cazenovia High School, wrote this essay for The Post-Standard's Sept. 20 Voices page.
By Carson Clabeaux
Cazenovia is known for its successful athletic teams, but many people really don’t realize the enthusiasm and support that goes into helping them win.
It all starts at the prep rally. The teams create dances and stomps, and compete against other teams in events. Afterwards a video shows clips of all the varsity sports teams with the top plays of each team. The events last a couple hours, which is taken out of the end of the day. The prep rally encourages enthusiasm and momentum for the following morning when the main events occur.
The following day is even more intense. Students wake up and have to get right to work. With the creation of their signs, and skits. Skits are generally composed days or weeks prior to the homecoming game. Signs have to be of regulation size and school spirited. The large signs are composed of not only paint, but objects that reflect Cazenovia’s past history. The majority of all signs have to be dismantled to get out of the school where they are created. Spectators are the judges on signs where Cazenovia faculty decides the outcome of skits. The skit is the hardest part of the homecoming for students because it involves a lot of preparation. The skit lasts a couple minutes and is filled with overpowering school sprit. Each class is responsible for the preparation and final showing of both their sign and skit.
Each athletic team also has its own homecoming game, these games are designated to extensive team work and supporting each other on the playing field. Not all games are on the same day, many games fall on the Friday after the prep rally, when moral is still running high.
The word “homecoming” is described as the return of students and alumni which is indeed what happens at the beginning of the school year. Many students as well as staff, dread the beginning of school. It symbolizes the end of vacation and the beginning of cold weather. But many are enthusiastic about the goodness fall brings. The harvesting of pumpkins and apples, and inhaling the cool crisp air is enough to numb the thought of being put back on a schedule. Homecoming is a time where students can relax and enjoy the sports and activities the look forward too during the first weeks of school.