Junior and Senior girls take the field for 2019 powderpuff game
The seniors in the white jerseys trounced the juniors in orange during this year’s Powder Puff game. Photo by Codi Carroll
Mr. Greyhound Luke Olson is surrounded by his all-male cheerleading squad after performing during the Powder Puff game. Photo by Codi Carroll
During this year’s Powder Puff tag football game, the seniors were looking to continue their legacy from their win last year as juniors. On Sept. 27, AHS’s senior Powder Puff team won again showcased their skills and teamwork with a 35-0 victory over this year’s juniors.
The seniors started off the game strong with a two touchdown lead (13-0). The juniors were already struggling against this almost unfair matchup against a team that had already demonstrated their dominant skills last year. The early on 14-point deficit didn’t seem to help the juniors’ nerves because they were dropping the ball left and right as soon as the ball was spiked. It didn’t really feel like they were prepared to face off against their formidable opponents. This was made even more apparent when senior Ashley Ioppini broke through the juniors’ tight defenses and scored a 20 yard running touchdown, leaving the score at (20-0).
During halftime, volunteer male “cheerleaders” performed an intricate dance routine. These cheerleaders embraced the cold while encouraging the Powder Puff players throughout the game. Everytime a player would score a touchdown, the cheerleaders would gather around one person, lifting him up into the air, or doing as many pushups as there were points on the scoreboard.
After a fun-filled weeklong competition for the title of Mr. Greyhound, senior Luke Olson was given the crown. Alongside Olson, the other competitors included Logan Jones and Kyle Pericic. The title of Mr. Greyhound is voted on by students and awarded to the most well-rounded candidate who demonstrates pride and invests in the school community. Contestants also participated in interviews, tests, and even dance competitions while competing for the crown.
After halftime, the girls went right back into the match. Both sides of the stadium were in awe when Iopponi intercepted a junior team pass ball thrown too high, and ran nearly the whole football field, 69 yards in total, to make the longest touchdown in AHS’s Powder Puff history (27-0).
Ashley Ioppini’s twin sister, Emma Ioppini, followed her sister's footsteps and scored the last touchdown of the match, bringing the final score to 35-0 after a final field goal. Talking about field goals, the seniors never missed a single one throughout the game.
“The Powder Puff game didn’t go as expected for us juniors; we put in our hearts to accomplish some goals we had for the game, but it didn’t turn out the way we expected it,” said junior Isabella Sanchez. She added, “Overall, I can say we didn’t come into this game prepared for what was going to happen, but we put up a hell of a fight.”
The junior team was coached by junior Eli Lopez, and senior Seth Robasciotti coached the senior team. Weeks of preparation and training went into the girls’ football skills, the boys’ halftime dance routines, and the decision about who deserved to win the title of Mr. Greyhound.