By: Maansi Maskai and Vivian Tsang
The MHS senior class triumphed at the 2019 Trojan Olympics (TO) with a final score of 620 points, 100 points more than the junior class, who ended with a final score of 520 points according to the scoring sheets provided by Activities Director Joanna Butcher. This year’s TO, which was held on March 23, marks the 21st year that the event has been held at MHS, Butcher said.
The sophomore class and freshmen class ended the night in third and fourth place with score totals of 475 points and 375 points respectively, Butcher stated. Each class was evaluated by a team of judges and referees in categories that included ticket sales, decorations, sportsmanship, games, and dances, she continued.
“I would say that most people feel the sort of euphoria when they’re experiencing the various events,” Butcher said. “It’s a feeling, and it is something that you can watch on video which is fun, but there’s such a different atmosphere being inside the gym during that event that you get caught up in it. You’re part of something and it’s so positive.”
Trojan Olympics is a way for students to build relationships, 2021 Class Advisor Tonichi Lorenzana said. Students who have more experience in choreography are able to teach their peers, he added.
“The class officers work towards getting a theme approved,” Lorenzana said. “Once the theme is approved, it comes down to creating a cohesive storyline for the characters, figuring out who should be included as a choreographer to plan the dance steps, and then it goes to what decorations need to be done.”
Each Trojan Olympics team is required to attend four official practices from beginning to end, Butcher said. Teams need to create decorations, prepare for an entry dance, select participants for games, and design a pyramid formation that may involve additional props, Butcher stated.
“The class officers and the ASB event staff spend a lot of time thinking through the different aspects, the safety, the fun, trying to think about what’s best for the schoo,l and how to keep it fair.” Butcher said.
Chemistry Teacher Letta Meyer was asked to be one of the judges for Trojan Olympics, she explained. It was fun to see the various dances that each class came up with, she said.
“Trojan Olympics was really positive, Meyer said. “I think one of the things I like the most about TO, is how all the classes, even though they’re competing against each other, they really support each other. There was a lot of good sportsmanship this year.”
