The Battle of the Bay rally portrayed the journey of rally commissioners Will Chavez and Meghan De Marinis as they searched Newport Harbor High School for the previously stolen BOTB trophy. With the assistance of the football team and coach Mitch Gardner, they successfully found and stole the trophy back.
As the first rally of the year, excitement levels were high. Whilst the lights dimmed in the Ocean’s 11 decorated gym and performers took their marks, the atmosphere hummed with anticipation. The opening scene alluded to last year’s devastating loss to the sailors and showcased how Chavez and De Marinis were determined to plan a successful heist to reclaim what was once theirs.
Pep Squad kicked off the rally with a bang. Dressed as Queens of Hearts, CdM Cheer, and Song received applause and praise from many students due to their spectacular routine. Senior Song captain Gracie Garrett shared her favorite thing about performing in rallies: “Dancing with some of my closest friends and getting to showcase our team to the school… was the highlight of last Thursday.” Garrett also explains how she manages the emotions that she tends to feel before a performance: “I would definitely say that I don’t get as nervous for rallies as I did in my first years… I’ve finally overcome the intimidating feeling of performing in front of my classmates.”
Following the Pep Squad were performances by CdM Spirit, Drumline, and Orchesis. Spirit’s heartwarming and animated demeanor, Drumline’s electric beat and light-up drumsticks, and Orchesis’ perfectly synchronized performance each provided students with a jaw-dropping experience. When speaking with sophomore Kaitlyn Shumlas, who is new to CdM High School, she expressed her opinion on the rally: “We had rallies at my old school, but they were a lot different. They were much quieter and were more like assemblies, so this rally was so different to me because I had never experienced something so high energy in school.” Shumlas explained how all the performers and videos brought a fun and exciting energy that made the rally enjoyable to watch.
The rally would not have been possible without CdM ASB. The Activities and Tech committees, as well as the rally commissioners, put in so much time and effort to make and execute such an elaborate production. The BOTB rally made for a great school year debut, and students can expect nothing less in upcoming school events.