With coronavirus restrictions around the school coming to a close, the Class Olympics will mark Westlake High School’s first traditional pep rally in over two years. After all, what better way is there to return to normal than an all-out war between the four classes? For as long as students can remember, the Class Olympics have always been vital to demon spirit and having fun in school. What most don’t remember, however, is how the Class Olympics came to be in the first place, which begs the question: Who would’ve thought that having the four grades fight each other was a good idea in the first place? 

Mrs. Clark, the current organizer of the event, has an answer. “At one time, we got all four grades together, but it was like a sing-off, like American Idol. People would volunteer to sing, and people would vote American Idol style. And it just got boring. That’s what it was. And we wanted to change it. And there was a student at the time, and his name was TJ Withers (he’s like twenty-three now), and he was in my class, and we just came up with the idea together to change it, ‘cause it was boring.” It makes sense that a sing-off became boring fast, as singing isn’t as inclusive or exciting as the activities that have been headlining the Class Olympics since 2014. “We wanted a new idea to make it more exciting, and that’s where we came up with the idea of doing a Class Olympics.”

With this year’s class olympics being Westlake High School’s first pep rally since 2019’s winter pep rally, Mrs. Clark feels the occasion will be special. “It’s the most fun thing we do here. I’m nervous. It’s been a while, so I’m nervous. I want everything to go well, but I’m excited. It’s gonna be fun.”

How do you feel about our current Class Olympics? Are you satisfied with how the school pits students against each other, or do you feel the sing-off should come back in some form? Feel free to comment below.