On Saturday, Sept. 27th, Poly hosted Spirit Day, an annual event geared towards promoting athletics within the community. The day featured games from all levels of fencing and girls volleyball as well as varsity football.
Along with cheering on student athletes throughout the day, attendees were also entertained with food organized by the Panther Club. The event was largely similar to last year’s, with a few old staples making a return.
“The planning process was both methodical and exciting as we brought back the beloved BBQ tradition. We weren’t entirely sure what to expect, but there was an incredible response from parents who eagerly volunteered to grill and support Spirit Day, under the skillful stewardship of Spirit Day chair Ideth Hernandez,” noted Panther Club Chair Catherine Ysrael Gomez. “The enthusiasm was a wo
nderful surprise, especially since volunteers can sometimes be hard to come by. From start to finish, the day ran smoothly and was filled with great energy.”
Athletes had the opportunity to both play for the large crowds as well as ch
eer on other games, facilitating connections across different sports on the field and in the gym.
“I thought that seeing a lot of people show up really illustrated that Poly is a community that is supportive of all sports, and just trying new things in general,” shared sophomore Harper Doyle.
Despite undergoing challenges due to the morning weather conditions and higher attendance than anticipated, the leadership team overcame them with the support of the school community by resorting to grilled cheeses when burgers and hot dogs sold out.
For the varsity fencing team, sophomores Ben Brady and Annie Delbridge placed 2nd and 6th, respectively, and for the novice fencing team, freshmen Tom Mathews placed 1st, Bruce Stetson placed 2nd, and Gemma Chang placed 3rd. Varsity football won 51-0, and varsity girls Volleyball won 3-0.
“The day was a joyful celebration of Poly’s sportsmanship, communi
ty, and—of course—our collective grilling skills. It was a true reflection of what makes Poly special: teamwork, flexibility, and a shared sense of fun,” Gomez shared.
