Prefect Council hosts Fanatic Fest

Printed with permission of Fab Fernandez

Buddy the Wolverine dunks a basketball in front of the community in Taper Gym.

Olivia Phillips

Prefect Council hosted Fanatic Fest in Taper Gym during community time Thursday. Buddy Wolverine, the Head Fanatics, Spirit Squad, the fencing team and other sports teams contributed to the event.

Spirit Squad Captain Adison Gamradt ’23 said preparing for Fanatic Fest was enjoyable and that the event was entertaining.

“I thought [Fanatic Fest] was lovely,” Gamradt said. “The Prefect Council has done it once again. It was a multimedia extravaganza that I was happy to be a part of.”

Prefect Council directed performances by cheerleaders, fencers and other groups during the event, according to Gamradt.

Sophomore Prefect and Fanatic Fest committee member Ellie Boris ’25 said that the different performances came together well and created a fun experience.

“Our committee was really collaborative on what we wanted to happen, and then [Senior Prefect Harry Tarses] wrote a lot of the script,” Boris said. “I feel like there could have been more energy [from the students] but I feel like we did everything well.”

Junior Head Fanatic Lily Stambouli ’24 said it was rewarding to see the final product of Fanatic Fest.

“What makes it fun is that you know what [to] expect but there’s always going to be a little twist or new people involved,” Stambouli said. “It was great to see it come together, lighting and all.”

Amelia Chiarelli ’25 said that watching the pep rally was overall an engaging experience.

“It was a little kitschy but in a really fun way,” Chiarelli said. “I feel like people care about [the pep rally] a lot more at the Upper School and it’s clearly more of an established tradition.”

Fencer Edward Ward ’25, who sword fought with Buddy the Wolverine as part of the skit, said his part in Fanatic Fest was easy to prepare for but that he enjoyed previous pep rallies more.

“I would say the one at the middle school’s more fun because there’s more childish fun and it’s less scripted,” Ward said. “There’s more student interaction as well. [For example,] I ate a donut off the stage last year.”