School traditions run deep in the heart of Woodford County High School. Long-held customs have showcased and represented school pride while fostering school spirit. Over the decades, some traditions have evolved into a means of uniting the student body while simultaneously encouraging competition between the grades. Either way, every tradition shows school allegiance.
In addition, the role of the spirit pants is a long-held tradition leading the student section at pep rallies, football games, and basketball games. The Spirit Pants are still a relatively young tradition in comparison to some of the others. The pants began in 2016 with senior Nick Vann. The pants are always held by the most spirited member of the Senior class, and the holder of the pants passes them down to the most spirited member of the next graduating class. Some former proprietors of the pants in previous years have been Fabian Garcia (‘22), Haydon Wells (‘23), Delano Mullins (‘24), Braxton Brock (‘25), and now Cole Humston (‘26). Each of these members has earned the pants as Juniors, demonstrating their pride and school spirit for WCHS. As Seniors, they earn the honor of wearing the spirit pants, guiding and energizing the student section, or leading the chants during news broadcasts.
Spirit outfits and banners in the gym fill WCHS during one of the most exciting weeks of the year, Homecoming. With spirit dress-up days, a Thursday Homecoming parade, powderpuff games, a Friday pep rally, the game with Homecoming court, and the dance itself. Homecoming week has continued to be one of the most fun and spirit-filled weeks for the past few decades. Homecoming is a dance that has been held for years and has stuck with WCHS since it opened its doors in 1964. This year will be the first year that the dance is held in the new school. The newest Homecoming week tradition has been the addition of the Powderpuff game. First hosted in 2023, Powderpuff is a game where girls can play flag football, football players coach the teams, and Coach Johnson is the referee. Pitting freshmen against sophomores and juniors against seniors, Powderpuff has created a healthy competition and a way of unifying grades during spirit week.
Filing into the gym on a Friday afternoon in mid-October, each grade has one goal: to win the spirit stick. Engaging in various competitions and chanting “WCHS,” each grade competes for the spirit stick. A tradition in American high schools that began in the 1960s, Woodford County was quick to follow. The stick is granted to the most spirited grade each year. Grades battle it out, gaining points by winning numerous relays, a dodgeball tournament, a tug-of-war, the “WCHS” chant, and a tally of the number of kids in each grade that participate in spirit week dress-up. Each competition gives points to the class that wins that portion. Typically, in stereotypical fashion, the Senior class wins the spirit stick. Whether that be due to their four years of experience with the spirit stick competition or simply because they are Seniors, Woodford County’s senior classes have won for the past few years. However, last year, the class of 2025 fell short of winning the spirit stick. The Junior class of 2026 came from behind to win the spirit stick, leaving the class of 2025 in shock. Regardless of who wins each year, the spirit stick is a fun tradition that takes place at WCHS.
I’m sure students across the school are excited to see what this year’s traditions will look like. Hopefully, the current ones continue to thrive, and a few new ones are added to the mix. Either way, it’s going to be a year to remember.
