Every Thursday, the TMI staff will post a story written in the past by alumni staff as a part of a collection we are calling the “Throwback Stories.” This story was written by Michael Costa in December of 2007 for Volume 1, Edition 1.
In a brand new high school, traditions are nonexistent. There is no senior class to assume the leadership role of the school and continue previous traditions. The traditions must be invented.
At Manvel High School, teams, clubs, and organizations alike are making their own traditions, creating the Manvel High culture that will remain here throughout the oncoming years.
These traditions sometimes breach mental barriers and make the students perform at the highest of their potential. They can also build focus by performing small, fun, even crazy routines that build levels of comfort.
MHS takes great pride in our sports teams. The varsity football team has established their own tradition by feeding off the chants from the supportive audience- the battle cry “Hoka Hey.” “Hoka Hey” is an old Sioux Indian battle cry that means, “I will sacrifice myself for the team.”
“The Ho-ka-hey chants from the stands truly do boost us into a higher level of play and make us feel that together nothing is impossible,” Coach Martin said.
Unity is a tradition in itself, and many other athletic teams at Manvel High have similar “catch phrases” that bring them together.
For instance, Coach Devers’ fast-pace basketball team doesn’t need to show the opposing team how they play. Instead, the breaking catch phrase says it all, “Run, press, forget the rest!”
“The break means to just go out there and run, run and hustle and play your hardest,” varsity basketball player Telley Missouria said.
But traditions are not just a guy-thing; our Lady Mavs have made a tradition of their own as an entire team.
In the girls’ athletics locker room, there is a sign with “Champion” written in big, bold letters strategically placed on the wall by the door. Acting as both an adhesive substance and a motivator, the sign reminds the athletes who they are and what they can do together. Before leaving the locker room, the athletes hit the sign, complying with being both a champion and member of a team.
“It’s symbolic of our sincere commitment that we all believe in, a commitment to everyday, play like a champion,” head girl’s basketball coach Dewanda Richard said.
Aside from sports, clubs and organizations around school also have traditions in the works. The Maverick Players gather in a circle before every play and say the motto, “There’s magic in the theatre and the theatre is magic. Keep a cool head and a warm heart. Remember you’re only as strong as your weakest link.” (They also kiss a special bunny, which may seem kind of weird, but traditions are traditions.)
“The motto peps us up and helps us realize our full potential for that night, Player President Payal Patel said. “And the bunny is just something unique and funny we all do.”
Sometimes initiations into organizations can become tradition. For example, the FFA organization has its own initiation to get into the program. The new members, called Greenhands, have to go to Greenhand Camp and recite the Creed, a five paragraph pledge recognized by the national FFA, by memory. The initiation is important because in order to even be a part of the organization, students must have to overcome an obstacle.
“Greenhand Camp was pretty fun, we played a bunch of games, and I saw a bunch of people I knew,” Amber Glaze, newly initiated Greenhand, said.
Traditions are traditions, even if it’s chanting a Sioux Indian battle cry or kissing a bunny, they all help to establish a unique culture here at Manvel High School.
The Maverick Informer 