Prefect Council hosted Fanatic Fest in Taper Gym during Community Time on Sept. 26. This schoolwide assembly was held to showcase school pride and introduce the sports teams competing in the Homecoming sports games on Sept. 27.

The pep rally began with the cheer team’s dance performance and Buddy the Wolverine leading team captains of field hockey, football, volleyball and water polo running out to music. Shortly after, the team captains began playing games, starting with hitting piñatas representing the mascots of the opponent teams and ending with a dodgeball game where team captains attempted to hit blindfolded students.

Head Fanatic Laila Mohammed ’26 said she enjoyed leading Fanatic Fest and seeing students get excited.

“I kind of expected to be in front of crowds when I was running for Head Fanatic, so it wasn’t anything I was super scared about,” Mohammed said. “I could always pick out my friends in the crowd. It was really fun to see them getting hyped. I thought it was a great experience.”

Junior Prefect Jasiri Johnson ’27 said Fanatic Fest is held every year to emphasize community and celebrate the athletes participating in Homecoming.

“We host Fanatic Fest every year to help encapsulate the energy and excitement for the homecoming games the following day and bring the community closer together to have fun,” Johnson said. “The purpose of Fanatic Fest is to highlight the athletes that’ll be playing in the Homecoming games. Making sure that they have their time in the spotlight is almost an ad for people to come to their games on Saturday. Planning was definitely a challenge to get all of it to come together but it was fun. Watching it all come together is the best part of it all.”

Hannah Yang ’28 said Fanatic Fest helped her feel welcomed as a sophomore.

“As a sophomore who was also a new ninth grader, I felt that last year’s spirit rally felt [different], whereas this pep rally felt a lot more mature,” Yang said. “I enjoyed the atmosphere and the sense of community the most because the way they had it set up. The instant you walk in, they’re already handing you the rave sticks and had music playing. It felt overall really cool and supportive to see the whole school gathered as a community in one place.”