Seniors continued their 26-year win streak as Powderpuff champions Nov. 9 by defeating the juniors in a hard-fought match. Powderpuff is an event that brings the Athens Drive student body together in a reverse game where the women play football while the men serve as cheerleaders. This year, the game served as a fundraiser for the Wake County SPCA. The SPCA is a national nonprofit in Raleigh, which, according to their website, has the goal to ‘transform the lives of pets and peoples for protection, care, education, and adoption.’
“Powderpuff is just fun; it just is. It is not meant to be serious. I love the cheerleaders, which are, of course, the guys, and watching them dress up and try to perform like the cheerleaders is always entertaining. The games themselves can be surprising; you find out there are some surprisingly really fast, really good athletes here at Athens,” said Christopher Remaley, senior class adviser.
Three games are held, each game being 20 minutes each. The games are divided into ten-minute halves, allowing the male cheerleaders time to perform. The games kick off with a senior vs. freshmen game. Following that is a game between the sophomores and juniors. The championship game is between the winners of the first two games. This year, the championship was held between the seniors and the sophomores. Seniors were able to hold off the freshmen from scoring, allowing the seniors to go up 9-0 and win the championship.
“I had a lot of fun at practices, and I felt like we really grew as a team. We learned how to be smart on the field, we made plays and worked together. Things went differently when it came to game time, but it was for a good cause, and we still had fun,” said Susan McGraw, junior.
The teams held two practices the week of the event and then played the games on Thursday. ADHS Football players served as coaches during the practices and games. Teachers, including Coach Webster, Coach Westbrook, and Kristen Worrell, were the referees for the game.
“The coaches were super helpful and taught me a lot. The team as a whole were super happy to win and excited to be playing the game,” said Taylor Malloy, senior.
Powderpuff is a fun, entertaining event for the student body and faculty that also has a purpose: to earn money to donate to a charity.
“All proceeds collected for Powderpuff from gate admission and what is left over from the registration cost that is for students; we just give a check to Wake County SPCA,” said Remaley.
In the five years this event has occurred, Athens Drive has sent them just over five thousand dollars. Remaley and other staff encourage interested students to buy a ticket and enjoy Powderpuff as it is a fun event and supports the Wake County SPCA.
“I think it is great if everyone would come out, support, and not only cheer on these students. It is always great when you have a great crowd in the audience to cheer them on because it is going for the great Wake County SPCA; I mean, it is the SPCA, [you can not] go wrong with that,” said Remaley.
