It’s officially that time of year! With first-semester finals behind us and colder weather settling in, Highland Park High School celebrates the changing season with our annual Winter Pep Rally.
As students poured into the Giant Gym late Friday afternoon, cheers rang out alongside the steady beat of the Drumline, with members of the Poms and Jammers teams lining the gym’s entrance. Highland Park honored an impressive lineup of athletes at the rally, recognizing teams across the board: Girls Gymnastics, Boys and Girls Wrestling, Boys Swimming & Diving, and Boys and Girls basketball. But the spotlight didn’t stop there—Fall All-State athletes also took center stage.
The school honored the impressive achievements of HPHS athletes. In Girls Tennis, doubles partners Mira Schmidt and Kourtnie Halperin finished 13th at state, while Gaby Gold and Aidan Stolze placed 7th. Freshman Andie Lawrence also qualified for the state tournament, marking an impressive achievement early in her high school career. In the pool, girls swimmers Brooke Eliacin and Apple Wojtowicz made waves by qualifying for state, while Henry Gamson also proudly represented Highland Park’s Boys Cross Country team at the state level. It was a celebration of hard work, talent, and dedication across every fall sport!
Keeping up with last year’s tradition, senior Ben Sadeghian, HPHS’s resident “professional moonwalker,” wowed the crowd once again with his signature moves.
Next up was the Home Depot Box Stacking Challenge, where each grade raced to stack seven boxes on top of one another without the whole tower collapsing. The sophomores claimed the win, with the seniors finishing a mere five seconds later. Jammers then took the floor, thrilling the audience with another exhilarating performance.
The excitement continued with a relay featuring the winners of the hula hoop, jump rope, and scooter contests. Each qualifier had to complete all three activities in the relay, and senior Shamus Ugolini emerged victorious—earning not only bragging rights but also a free prom ticket. Finally, Poms took the center stage with their jaw-dropping kickline, proving once again that Highland Park’s dance teams never fail to impress.
HPHS’s Rock Band also delivered a show-stopping performance, closing the rally with their rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’,’” leaving the crowd on their feet.
To wrap up this year’s Winter Pep Rally, Dr. Stephenson kicked off the competition for HPHS’s prized Spirit Stick. Judged by the Social Studies department, the Class of 2029 pulled off a surprise win. Looking ahead to the Spring Pep Rally, it’s safe to say the seniors are already plotting their rematch.
Despite the cold, the gym was filled with excitement, cheers, and an undeniable sense of Highland Park pride. From the performances to the competitions, the Winter Pep Rally demonstrated just how much our school spirit can energize us. With the energy from this rally, HPHS is ready to take on the rest of the year, on and off the court.
WE ARE HP.