Homecoming 2014

Happy homecoming! Where kids dress up like nerds, fireworks are lit in October and alumni return home after decades to visit their high school again. For me it's one of the busiest and most stressful weeks of the year, but it also brings everyone together and draws out the love and pride for your school and community.

During the week, there is a theme each day chosen by the student council for dressing up. This year's themes were nerd day, twin day, thrift shop day, opposite gender day and 'Merica. My best friend Sarah and I dressed up every day for school!

Thursday evening was the parade. High school sports teams, businesses and organizations all made floats and passed out candy. It was a lot colder than usual but we still had fun!

Following the parade, we had a bonfire at the park where the band played and the cheerleaders danced. To finish it off, the football players threw a dummy with the other team's jersey into the fire! The entire community loved watching and cheering; they do a great job supporting us.

Friday was a day jam packed full of activities. (I was sick and stayed home part of the morning, but came in feeling better after a few more hours of sleep.) Alumni from our high school come back and speak about their careers during the morning. After lunch, we have a pep rally featuring the homecoming candidates playing a game and the cheerleaders doing our routine. We have been practicing it for weeks and it was so fun to finally perform it!!

Once that was over, each grade took streamers and balloons to decorate the stadium for the game with the 'Merica theme. Leaving school an hour early was the best part! 

It was one of the chilliest homecoming games I can remember. We beat our opponents 56-21 and performed our routine again at halftime. Dancing in shorts and a tank top in 40º weather is a struggle, but we had fun performing it our last time.

I was also able to see two of my closest friends who were senior cheerleaders last year that came home to visit! I miss them so much and it was so heartwarming to have them home again, even if it was only for a short time.

Instead of going to the homecoming dance after the game and fireworks, I decided to have friends over to hang out, eat and talk. We had an awesome time!

I am so thankful to everyone who came to the parade and supported our team this week! You all rock!!! :D Let's not forget that this is not our true home! Imagine what an amazing homecoming celebration we will have when someday we are all in Heaven with our Heavenly Father...

"Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." -Mark 5:19

His Biblical Beauty,
Paige

Cheer Camp

It's that time of the year again!!! Cheer camp. Before I tell you all the details about camp, let me tell you how I got there...

We flew into the Houston airport on Monday the 23rd. Our flight was supposed to leave at 12, but instead it was delayed for 8 1/2 hours and eventually was canceled! It was one of the worst days I've ever experienced. The first few times was because of the weather, but then they "couldn't find a flight attendant." Although it was very frustrating, I know it happened for a reason. We spent the night and flew out the next morning with no problems. God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good.

Part of the reason I so badly wanted to get home was because cheer camp started on Monday! I got there Tuesday around lunchtime. We reviewed cheers and dances that were taught the first day. On Wednesday afternoon, All-American tryouts were held. My friend Lora and I made it! We had to perform a specific cheer, the dance we learned in a group and our best jump. Then on Thursday our parents and friends came to watch us perform. UCA staffers rated the squads and handed out trophies and various awards. We got the banana, the biggest award of all!!! It was our school's first time to receive the banana :)

Kayla and I

Celebrating the banana

Lora and I

My favorite staffer, Timmy!

Sophomores!! (Kinsley, Ariana, Brityne and I)

My friend Taylor and I

Bailey and I

Our outfits we made for homecoming theme night!

I am so blessed to have these eight beautiful, awesome teammates! Cheer camp was a great bonding experience and I am so excited to see what the future holds for this coming season. A big thank you to our coach, Steph, who dedicated her time and encouraged us all week.

"Rejoice always." -1 Thessalonians 5:16

His Biblical Beauty,

Paige

STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!!

Can you believe it?!??!!!?!?! We are the STATE CHAMPS OF 3A!

Let me back up....

The boys were the #1 seed and beat Collegiate, the 8th seed. Next they beat Riverton Friday night and finished it off with a close game on Saturday evening against Beloit. They haven't won a state championship since sometime in the 80s.

On Thursday evening the girls swept Douglass and went on to play Council Grove. We flipped a coin to be the #1 seed and ended up getting the #2 seed to Riley County. After winning Friday night, we faced Lyons, a team in our league, for the championship. Saturday night the Lady Swathers won their first state title ---- EVER!

It was so bittersweet cheering at our last game of the season, but they were such exciting games! I love the senior girls and our coach; they will all be missed. God has blessed me with amazing teammates.

Another special thanks to my wonderful parents and family who came out to support me at the game as well! :) Thank you for keeping up with me and all my busy cheerleading activities during this basketball season. I love you!

I thank the Lord everyday for all of the wonderful fans and supporters we have! It is a blessing to live in a community like Hesston.

Thank you for all your prayers and support during this basketball season!!
His Biblical Beauty,
Paige

State Pep Rally

The excitement just keeps growing and growing for state! Today our school hosted an all-district pep rally during school before our game tonight.

Our first game is played by the boys against Wichita Collegiate. It will be tough but I know we will pull through!

Tomorrow night, the girls will play Douglass. Best of luck to the Lady Swathers!

Our awesome superintendent Mr. Becker wished Hesston good luck!

Next, we had the teachers play a relay game which gave us lots of laughs :)

"What's the swather battle cry? V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!"

It was so awesome to see all swather fans, big and small, get pumped up for the game tonight!

Pray for the players and fans as we travel to Hutchinson tonight!!!

His Biblical Beauty,

Paige

Substate Basketball

   

Photo credit to Donna Schadler

Our boys and girls have been ranked #1 in the state all season and we proved it this week!

It all started with substate on Monday, March 3rd at home. That night the boys played Sedgwick and of course, won. Then on Tuesday, the girls played Halstead and dominated as well.

It was so fun to have two more home games before the season ended! We only had six this year, and I was sick for one of them. Soon though, we were on the road again...this time to Marion! 

When we walked into the gymnasium, it felt more like a college arena than a high school gym but we got used to it :)

The second game the girls played in substate was against Hutch Trinity. We were also very thankful to the pep band who came and played at every single game this week!

The boys played Marion, and sadly at their own gym, beat them! We advanced on to the finals...

And WON! We are going to state!!!!!!!!

The Swathers are also very thankful to all the fans who came out and supported us in Marion! We'll see you soon!!

His Biblical Beauty,

Paige