OH kicked off the school year with its first football game of the season and PantherFest, bringing the community together for an evening filled with sports, activities, booths, food, and school spirit.
Held Fri., Aug. 21, PantherFest gave students a chance to watch scrimmages, hang out with friends, and explore different clubs offered at the school. The event also offered several activities for younger kids such as bouncy houses and games.
For the newest Panthers, it gave freshman students an opportunity to experience high school and what this new chapter of their lives offers: a sense of community.
For OH freshman Emma Morrison, PantherFest was the perfect opportunity to spend time with friends while enjoying the excitement of the new school year.
“It was super fun,” Morrison said. “I liked how I got to hang out with my friends and watch the game.”
Morrison also took part as a member of the OH volleyball team’s scrimmage at PantherFest. Although the junior varsity team lost against varsity, she said playing at PantheFest was an important experience for the team.
“It was super-duper fun,” Morrison said. “That was our first time playing as a team really, so it was fun to see what we’ve been working on in practice and putting it into the game.”
The event also gave students a chance to discover activities they may want to participate in throughout high school. OH freshman Emory Richter, who is involved in flag football, said PantherFest has something for everyone.
“I liked everything about it,” Richter said. “I liked playing games and everything.”
Richter’s flag football team played a mini game during the event. The team tied, but Richter said the experience was initially nerve-racking before eventually becoming more enjoyable.
“It was nerve-wracking, but once I got into playing, it was actually very fun and exciting,” Richter said.
Students could also visit club and sports booths throughout the event. Richter described one activity where students could try and throw a football through a a target to win candy.
OH freshman Briel Noy volunteered at a booth inside the football stadium selling school shirts.
Noy said volunteering was a way to get involved while encouraging younger students to participate in school activities.
“It was fun,” Noy said. “I got to try and convince people to buy our stuff and inspire the younger kids to try out the flag football.”
For OH freshman football player Nicholas Smeltzer, the biggest highlight was the atmosphere surrounding the games. Smeltzer, who plays defensive tackle on the junior varsity team, made his Panther Fest debut on the football field.
“I like the vibe of it, and just how the crowd was going loud and stuff,” Smeltzer said.
OH’s JV team defeated Nequa Valley 47-13. After experiencing Smeltzer’s first game at PantherFest, he encouraged incoming students to attend in future years.
“Students for sure should go to Panther Fest,” Center said. “It’s just a good vibe for them.”
With its combination of athletics, activities and opportunities to connect with classmates, PantherFest gave students a chance to experience the Panther community both on and off the field, setting OH up for a great school year ahead.
Hello!!! My name is Jia Nair, and I am a sophomore at Oswego High School. It is my first year on the staff 42Fifty. At OHS, I am involved in BIONIC, Youth and Government, Girl Scouts, and Business Professionals of America. I also serve as the president of The Rightfully Project. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication.
