Lancer Nation prepares for Powderpuff 2024

By Aria Fugler, Micah Mills and Mia Knox

Following Liberty’s tradition, the school year is ushered in by the annual Powderpuff game on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. at the District 20 Stadium. Leading up to the event, upperclassmen girls are coached by football team members and supported by upperclassmen boys as cheerleaders to bring on a night of school spirit.

Lancer Nation hosts Powderpuff to kick off Homecoming Week, allowing the upperclassmen girls to play flag football while the upperclassmen boys cheer and perform a dance for the crowd. 

“I think it’s a fun thing to do, kind of like an escape and also a chance to get a bunch of new friends,” Dayna Smith said, a senior girl participating, sharing her excitement about playing in the event.

Practices are ongoing, with Liberty’s football team coaching the upperclassmen girls on strategy, and Lancer Nation’s cheer team directing the upperclassmen boys on routines and dances for the upcoming game.

Senior cheerleader Derek Amsden explained how Powderpuff kicks off the school year into Homecoming Week, “We always bring the hype to the football game, and I enjoy being a part of that.”

After playing last year as a junior, Amsden explained how it is different to play again as a senior: “As Seniors, it's something else because we’re working together as a class for our last powderpuff experience.”

English teacher Morgan Anliker has coordinated and directed Powderpuff events for the last two years with the help of another teacher, Cassidy Dahnke.

Anliker’s main motivation for helping organize Powderpuff was that “it gets a lot of different kids together that don’t normally come together…I just think that’s like a really fun camaraderie thing… there’s a lot of good bonds that are formed from this.”

Though only upperclassmen are allowed to participate in the event, it draws a large crowd from all areas of the school on game night.

The annual Powderpuff game takes place before the Homecoming Bonfire which directly follows the end of the game. Tickets are $5 at the door.