By Ezra Caber & Hilda Rico Valdez

The Associated Study Body (ASB) presented the first Scottie Bowl in the evening on March 8. In typical Powderpuff fashion, boys signed up as cheerleaders while girls played flag football in front of a cheering crowd. It was an epic game, pitting the junior class against the seniors. By overtime, the seniors scored 26-20, winning GHC’s first Powderpuff game. 

The Scottie Bowl game challenges the typical gender stereotypes by allowing the girls to play football. It’s a great opportunity for them to participate in the game without enforcing any type of division. In the first part of the game, the boy cheerleaders played a round of flag football first and then proceeded to head out to the sidelines where they cheered for the girls that played. 

“Everyone got the chance to play,” ASB advisor Kristen Whitman said. “The games are not as binary as it sounds, and all the players had a choice to choose the team they were most comfortable playing with.” 

The game had a lively atmosphere as Scottie Bowl attendees cheered on the upper-classmen while a DJ played upbeat music.  

The boys played a game of flag football to open for the first round. Then it switched and the girls played football. Although the junior team was in the lead in the first half, the seniors won in the second. 

“It was an entertaining game, I went with my friends and had lots of fun with them,”  senior Mia Fitzgerald said. “It was great seeing the seniors win.” 

A few weeks before the game, sign-up sheets were available for students who wanted to participate in the Scottie Bowl as a football player, cheerleader, water girl/boy, or ball girl/boy. Both the cheerleader boys and football girls took a couple of weeks to prepare for the game.

“We practiced during lunch for three days,” senior Mal Melendez said. “We practiced passing, throwing, and catching throughout those days.”

The cheerleaders prepared for the game by attending practices with ASB historian and cheer captain Lily Gonzalez. They practiced various stunts and cheers, including toe-touch jumps, chants, and the pyramid.

“During lunch, we went out on the field to practice,” senior Felipe Knight said. “Lily taught us all our stunts and tricks.” 

The Scottie Bowl game uplifted students’ school spirit. It brought the students together on one day to come and form bonds with each other and participate in an eventful sports game. ASB plans to make the Scottie Bowl an annual event for each school year. 

“My favorite part was just seeing everyone have fun,” Whitman said. “Our students expect so much of themselves and this game was a nice chance to see everyone relaxed and enjoying themselves. Winning wasn’t the goal, it was having fun and I think we accomplished that.”