The gym transformed into a bustling hub of excitement as students filled the stands, greeted by beaming SunDancers and upbeat cheerleaders, as the semester’s second pep rally commenced on Friday, Oct. 10, during Flex.

The band filled the room with upbeat renditions of Runaway Baby by Bruno Mars and Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond as both performers and students readied themselves for 25 minutes of entertainment and student talent. To kick things off, the pep rally burst to life with Westwood’s beloved tradition of free pizzas. The crowd’s anticipation quickly turned to sympathy as an audience member fumbled the “Rock Paper Scissors” showdown — and their free pizza — against pep rally host Coach Travis Dalrymple.

“It’s always nice to see everyone so hyped up at pep rallies. It always gives me time to have fun and a break from the constant stress and business of my daily school schedule,” Aanya Pathak ‘28 said. “I also really love rooting for the people who go down to participate in games or challenges.”

Soon after, the tennis, water polo, cross country, and football teams celebrated their recent wins, shouting “Sko Wood” into the microphone to rally support for their upcoming games. Afterward, the cheer team dazzled spectators with a showcase of perfected bow and arrow holds, complicated tumbling moves, and perfectly synced choreography, paving the way for the SunDancers’ energy-filled routine. The notes of Nokia by Drake blasted through the gym as the SunDancers burst into their beginning moves, dancing to a mashup of hip-hop hits. In a turn of events, faculty members strutted on the floor to join the annual SunDancers-teacher dance, much to the thrill and laughter of the attendees.

“The process for preparing for the pep rally was [preparing] a week in advance for the performance. [We first] learned the teacher part and then moved on to our own part,” SunDancer Paige Chien ‘27 said. “We planned out the student-teacher part by going to all of our teachers and asking them if they wanted to dance with us two or three weeks in advance.”

The next activity consisted of a group of students on the floor, who found themselves rolling as they were tasked with using their bodies and a folded table to haul a football team member from one side of the gym to another. The stands roared with support, laughing as tables strayed off-track. Team Cooper, which consisted of audience members and varsity football quarterback Cooper Waits ‘27, was declared the winner.

“Watching all of the activities is always the best part because they’re always really fun and interesting,” Alexis Hwang ‘26 said. “As a part of Warrior Pride, I like that we can cheer on other students and teams.”

After the room rose to sing the alma mater, the second pep rally of the school year ended with a flourish. The band’s triumphant music played in the background as students walked out with unforgettable memories.

“My favorite part is probably when the teachers came on because that’s when [I] could just have fun and [focus on] keeping the energy up,” Chien said.