For 127 consecutive
years, the Germantown Academy and Penn Charter football teams have competed
annually in the nation's oldest, continuous prep school football rivalry. Once known only for the football contest, GA-PC Day
has grown to include match-ups between both schools' field hockey, cross country, soccer, tennis,
and water polo teams. A special Competition Cup, established in 1996, is
awarded to the school which wins the most events on GA-PC Day.
2013 GA-PC Day -
Football: GA 42, PC 35 - Competition
Cup: GA-PC tie
GA has many traditions, but the GA-PC rivalry has always been the
biggest. The rivalry means something different to everyone at GA no matter if
you’re a teacher or a student. Whether
you’ve been at GA for 10 years or you’re a new student, it is one of the most
fun events to be a part of.
I remember in my first year I had never even heard of the school
called PC let alone the rivalry. It didn’t make difference because I could feel
the energy that it brought and knew I wanted to be a part of it. I knew no one
outside of my grade, but still found myself giving high fives to upper
schoolers and cheering just as loud. That’s the greatest thing about GA-PC
day—the fact that it ties all branches of the school together in a way that no
other thing does. This is so important because of the wide age group that GA
covers from the littlest pre-kindergarteners to the big cool twelfth graders
and the faculty. It is quite a feat to bring these groups together in such a
way. It doesn’t really even matter who wins or loses (though it is fun to beat
those Quakers) because it’s the spirit and competitiveness of the day that
makes it so memorable.
That memory lives on it each person. I’ve talked to people who have
graduated twenty years ago, but they are still bitter about a loss to PC or
reminisce about that final goal that won them the game and the day. GA/PC day
instills a kind of spirit that is amazing to see and even better to be a part
of. I am glad to get to experience it every year with the great people at
GA.
-Owen M. '19
As the cheerleading captain, the all-school Pep Rally the Friday
before GA-PC Day is definitely the highlight of the season for me. The
cheerleaders start working on a routine in August and spend the season – when
not preparing for the weekly football games – practicing our dances, stunt
routines, and fan-favorite cheers.
A relatively new tradition of GA-PC week allows the cheerleading squad
to visit some of our best fans in the Lower School. The cheerleaders choose our
favorite cheer to teach to the entire Lower School – this year, it was “Hey,
all you GA Fans,” which we love because we get to clap with the crowd to cheer
on the Patriots. We visited the Pre-K through 5th grades and had so
much fun showing the kids and their teachers how they could get involved in the
Pep Rally.
I loved watching the kids’ faces light up when I told them that this
was their special cheer, as we were teaching it to only them and not the Middle
or Upper Schools. Whether you’re a Lower Schooler, GA parent, alumnus, athlete,
or just a GA fan, GA-PC Day is definitely a tradition that every member of our
community has a vital role in.
-Alli L. '14
I am one of the kids who always go all out on Spirit Week. For me,
it’s an excuse to dress up in the most ridiculous, most embarrassing, and
funniest outfits I can think of, and not get made fun of for it. I remember
last year my favorite theme was superhero day. I chose to be my own variation
of Aqua Man where I wore teal sweatpants that were about 4 sizes too big for
me, an extra small swim cap, my mom’s swimming goggles, and a blue t-shirt. It
was hysterical. Now, although it was not quite what someone would catch the
real Aqua Man wearing, it shows the true nature of Spirit Week.
This year’s themes were of Nerd Day, followed by Goth Day, followed by
Tacky Tourist Day, followed by Masquerade Day, and concluded with the Grade
Color Day. Personally, my favorite of the all the days was Tacky Tourist Day,
just because I had the most fun wearing an ugly Hawaiian shirt, a small bathing
suit, a visor, and a fanny pack (which I discovered are quite practical and
have worn it every day since). Although I did not like the theme as much as the
others, I thought it was cool that on Goth Day, the entire student body
participated and made it really interesting to walk down the halls and watch a
sea of eyeliner and black lipstick (on guys) flood past you.
-Gideon S. '15
Here at Germantown Academy we have a tradition of coming together
before GA-PC Day and getting hyped up about the games ahead. This hour-ish long
rally is held in the big gym and hosts many different acts put on by upper
school students, usually seniors. The lower schoolers have their area, the
upper schoolers have the bleachers, and the middle schoolers squeeze in the
sides. To get everybody hyped, seniors come around and throw candy for you to
catch. Of course, when candy is thrown people try to catch it. This can go one
of two ways. One, you get hit in the face with flying candy. Or two, you avoid
getting tackled by candy-hungry students. Personally, I like getting hit in the
face so I don’t go for the candy and usually end up getting hit. After the
candy throwing, the Pep Rally begins.
We always begin with the alma mater and the star spangled banner
then move on to “beating up” of teachers who dress in the unfortunate blue and
yellow of Penn Charter. Another tradition at GA is hallway decoration. Each
high school grade decorates a hallway with a theme and the teachers judge them
in a competition for second (seniors always get first.) The winner is announced
and there is always much cheering and booing especially this year because the
sophomores came before the juniors. Then the seniors run through their class banner
and huddle in the center for some celebratory jumping and yelling.
Then the real act begins with the cheerleaders doing their
routine. I have been going to GA since third grade; this means I know the
cheers. One example is the Patriot Beat which involves a very elaborate hand
clap and leg slapping beat that I can never seem to get right and always mix
up. Next, we hear from the sports captains. They inform us of last year’s
outcome and assure us that they will crush them this year for sure. After this
is the main event, Senior Step. I always enjoy this act the most because I’m
incapable of dance. This, again, is a series of stomps, claps, and “swag
moves.” A group of senior girls and usually one boy (but I have recently been
informed there can be more than just one boy) get together and create a
choreographed ten minute dance to pop songs. This year I found the dance very
entertaining because my sister, a senior, was dancing and I never ever see her
dance. After this, the cheerleaders preform again and then they escort the
lower school kids out to avoid the rush of the upper and middle schoolers.
After the lower schoolers leave, the net on the ceiling holding balloons is
torn and it quickly becomes a competition of who can pop more balloons.
GA-PC Day is one of my favorite days of the year because it does
not matter who you are friends with or what sport you play. Everyone in that
gym is there to support their school and carry on tradition. And Germantown
Academy sure has a lot of tradition. We have been around for 257 years and
every time I go to the pep rally or GA-PC Day I feel like I am upholding some
sort of tradition. You can’t find that feeling in many other places. I can’t
wait until I am a senior and running the school or maybe just the pep rally.
Who knows?
-Margaret H. '19
No comments:
Post a Comment