Congratulations to the Girls Leaders Organization (GLO) at Walt Whitman High School on another exciting Girls Sports Night (GSN) on Thursday, February 29th! This year, it was Old School versus New School, and the energy in the air and great crowd turnout are reasons why this event is one of the best annual Whitman traditions. Congratulations ladies!
A long-running and very popular tradition for the South Huntington School District, this was the 74th Girls Sports Night. Originally, GSN gave young women the opportunity to participate in athletics that were only available to boys. As times changed and girls’ teams were established, Whitman’s GLO has continued to keep the tradition alive.
Months of hard work goes into putting this night together. It started back in December with cheer tryouts for anyone who wanted to be on a cheer team. Then there was music to be chosen, choreography to be done, and costumes to be designed. And there were weeks and weeks and weeks of practice!
After the official welcome and the Opening Cheer, the teams competed against each other in volleyball, tug-of-war (which was so intense the rope broke!), welcome cheer, dodgeball, calisthenics, basketball, fight cheer, and senior musical chairs. There was plenty of enthusiasm, lots of cheering, several costume changes and touches of glitter!
GLO President Courtney Magee and Vice President Riley McDonnell said to the participants and their GLO members, “All of our captains have put in numerous hours to make this night possible. Their work has truly paid off and has not gone unnoticed. To the girls participating, we hope you had fun and continue to participate in the following years.”
They also thanked all the parents and guardians for their love and support, and for shuffling everyone around to the practices. GLO advisor Kim Mahoney received flowers and thanks for all the work she puts into GLO and GSN. “Anything we have done and will do in the future would not be possible without you,” said Courtney and Riley.
Girls Leaders Organization is an academic and athletic honor society. The criteria for being a GLO member includes high academic achievement, participation in varsity athletics, hours of community service, as well as dedication to the club and its activities and events. Some of their community services include the Homecoming Carnival and Bonfire, Breast Cancer Awareness “Flocking” fundraiser, Autism Awareness Walk, Thanksgiving food drive, the District Holiday Winter Wonderland, and a pajama drive and holiday gift cards for hospitalized children.
A big thank you to all of the custodial staff who made this night possible, Mr. Rogers and the Robotics Club for generously rebuilding and constructing the cheer boxes, all of the amazing proctors, and the Secret Judges Panel.
GLO also thanks Dr. Murphy, Mr. Varlamos, Dr. Muller, Dr. Richards, Mr. Castillo, and Mrs. Andrade at Whitman, plus Superintendent Dr. D’Elia and our Board of Education for their continued support for GSN and GLO. And a special thank you to the boys helpers who worked tirelessly to keep the night moving with speedy equipment changes in between each competition. It was a night that will become a cherished high school memory for many!
Old School Calisthenics had a classic routine with recognizable tunes the crowd could dance along to.
New School Cali had their own flare of modern choreography.
Basketball definitely tested the athleticism of our GSN participants!
The girls were locked in during dodgeball, an always intense matchup.
With the quick and unexpected snap of the rope, this was the first ever tie in tug-of-war!
Some volleyball mishaps led to good laughs on either side of the court.
New School Cheer reached great heights during both their welcome and fight cheers.
Old School brought the intensity at the very beginning of the night with their welcome cheer.
Senior Musical Chairs is always full of fun and friendly competition.