If you ever need a boost of energy, try spending three hours at a high school pep rally being broadcast live on television. It’s game day and just after sunrise. We’re hours away from a three-day weekend. It’s a big day for Pirate Nation.
FOX 13’s Charlie Belcher led a celebration at Braden River High School in Manatee County this morning, along with Chase and the crew from radio station, Hot 101.5. BRHS beat out another Tampa Bay-area high school in an online contest to win the Good Day Tampa Bay pep rally.
Inside the sprawling gymnasium were cheerleaders, football players, marching band members, the color guard, and the highly-spirited Student Government Association (SGA). There was singing, dancing and an epic lip sync battle that will likely end up in the school yearbook (see the video below of Dance/Drama Teacher Ricardo Robinson.)
How many likes can we get for SCHOOL SPIRIT? Drama and dance teacher, Ricardo Robinson, easily wins the @hot1015 Lip Sync Battle at Braden River High School.His moves are everything! #WeManatee
Posted by School District of Manatee County on Friday, September 1, 2017
FOX13’s Belcher fired up the crowd by announcing that his daughter attends Clearwater High School, the Pirates’ opponent for tonight’s football game. True story. But it’s no coincidence that most of the students are wearing flowered shirts and leis. There’s a Hawaiian theme for the game against the Tornadoes.
If there’s one person who could take the crown for school spirit, it’s Gabriella Alfonso. The senior, known as “Gabby”, is the PR Historian for SGA who didn’t let the camera around her neck stop her from dancing all over the gym. “My family is Italian, so being excited just comes naturally,” Alfonso said. “I love Braden River because of its school spirit.”
Alfonso was among the group of student officers who were interviewed on live television including Sofia Mingote, Sara Kate Dyson, Andrea Aguirre, Alyssa Gagnon, Jordae Jenkins and Alexis Reis. Afterwards, they wrapped their arms around one another for a huddle (or a ‘huggle’) with first-year BRHS Principal Sharon Scarbrough.
11th grader Zeek doesn’t shy away from the camera and for good reason… his smile is contagious. It’s his first time on television. You can be sure that he will still be wearing his Hawaiian shirt and cheering tonight from Section E, the spirit section of the stadium at “The River.”
Leah is a junior and a member of the school’s color guard. Holding a pair of silver pom poms, she boasts about her love for Pirate Nation because its energy level. You can feel a real sense of camaraderie as she and her friends smile for a photo.
Pirates’ Head Football Coach Curt Bradley set the record straight on live television. He wants his team to make it all the way to the State Championship this season. They showed their moves during the pep rally; several players participated in a dance-off – and the group of well-dressed young men serenaded 17-year old Alyssa for her birthday — something that she will never forget.
Pirate Nation showed the community who they are today… a school with tremendous pride. Go Pirates!
#WeManatee stands for We are the School District of Manatee County. No matter what challenges we face, we strengthen each other when we stand together.