Homecoming hawks in flight

The Bluehawks busted out a buffet of activities to celebrate their 2008 homecoming last week.

Activities and events included a variety of dress-up days, an uncanny blend of races, Jeopardy, decorating and the competition that always raises a lot of “tension” — the traditional tug of war class competition.

Out of the week long festivities, as expected, the senior class took first, placing the highest in the majority of the events. They were followed by the juniors, sophomores and, in last place, the freshmen.

In the individual events the seniors won the superhero dress-up day, bed and tricycle racing, the class yell competition and hall decorating. The juniors won sport dress up day, the seven-legged race, the hula-hoop race, relay race, ‘80s dress up day, brain boggle, jeopardy and both the girls and guys tug of war competition.

The sophomores took first in water-balloon volley ball, blue and gold dress up day and float judging. The freshmen won class choice dress up day where they all came dressed in Griz costumes and memorabilia.

School secretary Ginny Dyer has been helping with homecoming events as a student council counselor for more than two decades and said that she looks forward to the week all year long.

“You have to have a little fun during homecoming week and it builds spirit it makes everybody in the mood for the game for the dance, just to have a good time,” Dyer said. “This is 21 years that we’ve been doing the Olympics here. I’ve been here since 1980. It’s great we have a lot of fun.”

Dyer pointed out that though the week is fun it also requires a lot of work on both students and teachers as there is always a lot of planning involved. Specifically she said that there are four student committees lead by the executive board of the Thompson Falls High School student Council. The president, vice president, secretary and the treasurer oversee the four different committees.

Despite the work Dyer said that in the end it is always worth it when you see the reactions of all the students.

“I think activities are an important part of high school life. I like to see smiles I like to hear them hooping and hollering and having a good time. I love to hear their spirit in the stands and in the fields,” she said.

Athletics Director Jason Reimer couldn’t have agreed with her more. This year was Reimer’s first year assisting in the activities.

“I think these are the kind of things that kids remember, it builds a lot of school spirit a lot of school tradition. I think it’s a great thing especially in small towns,” he said.

Reimer also said that the tug of war competition was also one of the events he enjoyed. This years event had a huge upset as the sophomore class beat out the seniors in a close victory. The seniors were only eight inches away from pulling into a win when the sophomores got a surge of energy and started pulling back. Slowly, inch by inch and under the cries and cheers of classmates the sophomores pulled away with a hard win.

“[The sophomore tug of war] was huge. I think that’s got to go down as one of the best come from behind victories in school history,” Reimer said.

Looking at the week as a whole Reimer feels that tradition is a founding cornerstone of the festivities.

“I think the biggest thing about homecoming is that it builds tradition and I think that the kids as they get older, as they go through high school, they begin to look forward to it more. It ushers the freshman in and ushers the seniors out, It’s community event,” Reimer said.