Pep Rally freezes the crowd

Senior Emily Stuart strikes a pose for the audience during the cheerleaders’ performance.

BY ZOE CHIN

On December 23, Old Bridge High School held its annual winter pep rally, bringing together students and staff in the gym for a fun-filled celebration just before winter break. The Dance Team, Afrobeats, Step Team, K-Pop, Indian Dance Team, Cheer Team, and teachers all spent weeks practicing to put on a memorable show.

One of the most talked about moments of the Pep Rally featured a performance by senior Olivia Medina alongside teacher Scott Beverly, who appeared as Elsa from Frozen. The duo performed the fan favorite song “Let It Go.” During the performance, Beverly soared high into the air, strapped into a rope and pulled upward as he sang, uplifting the crowd’s experience. “We practiced in the gym during a few lunch periods using the microphones and music with Mr. Torok, and I also practiced on my own,” said Medina

The cheer team also impressed the audience with an act that included building a snowman and performing many stunts and dynamic choreography. “It was a lot of hard work and practice to get the routine down to perform it in front of people!” exclaimed Emily Stuart.

Jessa Rowan elegantly throws her arms up during her Dance Team routine.

OB’s very own K-Pop dance group, Illusion, danced to popular songs, such as “Fashion” by Cortis, “ABCD” by Nayeon, “Like Jennie” by Jennie, and “Debut” and “Gnarly” by Katseye. “Each performer chose a color that represented them in a way. I believe that it made it easier for the crowd to identify their fellow peers and cheer them on,” said Emmielee Ramos. “It made our performance very bold and bright with our different colors and loud music.”

Despite having only two weeks to practice, the K-pop group put on an amazing performance. “I really enjoyed the actual performance since it really shows the effort of our practices and dedication we put into this program,” said Jayden Yu.

Senior Olivia Medina sings “Let it Go” to open the Pep Rally.

Teachers dressed in full holiday spirit as they performed to the song “Winter Wonderland” by Snoop Dogg and Anna Kendrick. They spent time practicing their routine during lunch periods. “Mrs. Celentano created the dance, and she sent a video for us to view and practice,” said Michelle George.

Afrobeats uplifted the audience with their routine, featuring songs like “Kese” by Wizkid and “Uyah” by 2wo Bunnies, Jay Music, and Uncle Waffles. Their performance was elevated by stunning outfits and a bold display of flags representing African cultures, adding an exciting cultural touch. The group’s energy and confidence kept the crowd engaged from start to finish.

Nicole Clemente smiles while performing a viral dance.

Delivering two routines with a taste of jazz and hip-hop, The Dance Team highlighted their teamwork and preparation, earning strong reactions from the crowd. Their jazz routine performed to “The Rose” by Bette Midler, while their hip-hop routine featured a dynamic mix of songs. “Definitely lots of practice and hard work from everyone on the team,” said Gianna Villa.

The Indian Dance team put on a show with their dance routine showing precision and culture. Their performance displayed a traditional style, which made it stand out among the other acts. “We practiced every day after school for about a week and a half,” shared Riya Shah.

Freshman Syna Pandya sways her arms calmly while performing with the Idian Dance Team.

The Pep Rally’s final performance came from the Step Team, who ensured every move stayed on beat through precise choreography. “The preparation process for Pep Rally involved practicing two times a week, working on spots and timing, for step specifically making sure we sound and move in unison,” shared Jayden Junaid who took part in both Afrobeats and Step.

Strong energy filled the gym as each performance energized the crowd and kept students cheering throughout the event. “The Pep Rally brought the spirits of the school up before winter break,” said freshman Eason Chin.

Engineering & Design teacher Scott Beverly sings, fully committing to his epiction of Elsa.
Junior Loksze Wang dances at center court with the K-pop group
Senior Jonah Javier sets her hand in position for the next Step Team move.
English teacher Jessica Tosonotti looks to her right during her dance performance.
Natalie DeNota, Gianna Fonzetti, and Sienna Wong bring their hands to their hearts in accordance to the Dance Team’s routine.
Junior Jenna Malik poses as she smiles up at the crowd during the Indian Dance.
Students share excitement as they sway back and forth during the roller coaster activity.
Renee Galdieri, Erin Monigan, Kristen Celentano, Brittany Fuentes, and Brita Schmitz line up together and do high kicks.
Sophomore Sienna Wong poses as part her performance during the jazz routine.
K-pop group members, Emmielee Ramos, Loksze Wang, and Jordin Rivera tilt their bodies following the beat of the song.
Teacher Brittany Fuentes laughs and dances during the teachers’ performance.
Kendall Nebbia and Emily Stuart pose as their teammates lift them.
Teacher Scott Beverly stands high at center court directing the students on a roller coaster ride.
Junior Yosan Leul shows rhythm, culture, and teamwork as the Afrobeats group performs a dance.
Jayden Yu dances with energy during the K-Pop performance.