Students partake in a homecoming activity-filled week to celebrate the start of a new school year.
Mallory Baker represents the City Champion Volleyball crew at the assembly. Photo by Ed Gloor
As students complete the first six weeks and fall back into the rhythm of school, the TJ community celebrates its 51st homecoming week slightly later than usual, from October 10-15, 2011. This unique homecoming week was filled with activities and spirit days for all Spartans to enjoy, as well as the eventual triumph over the George Washington Patriots (32-12) in the big Homecoming football game.
Photo by Ed Gloor
TJ students show their spirit and pride by dressing up on days with various themes contributing to the fun atmosphere of homecoming week. This year’s spirit days included: Wacky Tacky Monday in which Spartans were to dress mismatched and goofy, Tie-dye Tuesday, Twin Day Thursday, and of course TJ Day Friday. The afternoon before TJ Day, the fall sports and cheerleaders collaborated to transform the hallways into a sea of brown and gold. Streamers, balloons, posters, and recognition of all the teams and their players filled the school. Wednesday did not see a spirit day this year due to testing for all underclassmen and juniors.
King Rovel Berhe and Queen Patricia Mortel preside over pep rally. Photo by Ed Gloor
TJ Student Council created a new tradition this year of crowning royalty at the beginning of homecoming week instead of at the dance. A lunchtime crowning ceremony was held on Monday outside by the greenhouse to announce the homecoming King Rovel Berhe and Queen Patricia Mortel. Nominees for homecoming royalty are chosen by fall sports coaches. “The crowning ceremony this year included chips and soda for students to enjoy provided by Pepsi and Frito Lay. The Black Student Alliance (BSA) provided music and a DJ. We’re really glad a wide variety of students participated and enjoyed the crowning ceremony. The weather was nice and everyone was mellow and seemed to have fun,” said Student Council Sponsor JoAnne Moreno.
This year’s King and Queen were Rovel Berhe and Patricia Mortel. They proudly wore their crowns and sashes all week and were honored as King and Queen at all homecoming events. “I never would have imagined being homecoming queen, but I appreciated each and every moment of being queen all week,” said Mortel.
Seniors dominate, as usual, at the annual Powder Puff football game. Photo by Mateo Rocha
A tradition well-known to TJ, the entertaining lunchtime game of Powder Puff was played on Friday thanks to a modified schedule for the spirit week. Powder Puff is a football game played on the turf-field between two student-created teams made up of the junior and senior girls. Due to testing on Wednesday, the Wednesday block schedule was moved to Friday allowing the girls to have enough time to play during an elongated lunch and still get to class on time.
Though it is tradition for the seniors to always win, the juniors have fun and enjoy taking part in the activity as upperclassmen. “Playing in Powder Puff was a bunch of fun. Even though the seniors always win it was very exciting to get pumped up and play for fun and take part in a TJ tradition amongst the upperclassmen girls,” said Junior Rachel Uyemura.
This year’s Pep Rally was hosted by the Homecoming King and Queen, Rovel and Patricia. The pair made an energetic duo that encouraged the school to get excited and pumped up for the homecoming game played the next day. “I was nervous of the idea of MCing or speaking during the Pep Rally. But once I saw and heard the school’s intensity my adrenaline rushed, and it was a blast pumping up the crowd,” said Mortel.
TJ Cheer Squad entertains at pep assembly. Photo by Ed Gloor
The pep rally included performances by the TJ cheerleaders, choir, JROTC, and the senior Hot Boys as well as a sports roll call and a unique presentation of a letterman jacket to Senior Kenneth Paredes. The senior boys brought back the tradition of the comical hot boys’ routine this year after not having the performance last year. Although the boys’ performance never fails to make Spartans laugh, this year’s routine concluded with a surprise appearance by a group of male teachers, also dressed in comical TJ gear. “Hot Boys was a lot of fun. It was awesome to bring back a fun tradition to add to the spirit of homecoming week. It was hilarious to see myself and all of my friends dressed up in provocative cheerleaders’ clothing doing various cheers. You could tell that the crowd loved it because when we all ran in it got ten times louder in the gym,” said Senior Mitchell Moore.
Kenneth Paredes accepts his well-earned letterman's Jacket. Photo by Ed Gloor
However, the highlight of the Pep Rally for many proved to be the presentation of a letterman jacket to Kenny, a special education student who has wrestled for TJ for four years. “It was nice to see that the students were energetic and spirited during the pep rally. The moment Kenny received his letter Jacket was very touching and really demonstrated what TJ is all about. That is what really pushed this year’s pep rally over the top,” said Principal Sandra Just.
On Saturday the TJ community, consisting of decades and generations of Spartans, came together to celebrate the presentation of the TJ Spartan Hall of Fame Awards and the dedication of the turf-field at TJ to Dr. “Coach” Herman Motz. Chris Vanderveen, class of 1992 and 9News Reporter, was the host of the ceremony introducing guests as well as speaking about his own experiences at TJ. The words, “It’s a great day to be a Spartan,” were heard throughout the ceremony, creating a positive and proud atmosphere around TJ on a very celebratory day.
With the mark of the 50th anniversary, the TJ Alumni Association – Lead by Kendra Black – inaugurated the TJ Spartan Hall of Fame to recognize and honor Spartans for their contributions to TJ, Denver, and within the world. Each new inductee of the TJ Spartan Hall of Fame was introduced by a person who was personally impacted and influenced by the inductee. The awards and honors were given to: George Dicarlo (class of 1981, 1984 olympic medalist, Dicarlo still holds many swimming records in DPS), Wendy Lucero (class of 1981 and Olympic and world champion diver), John McGregor (TJ Teacher 1963-1984, Founder and Patriarch of McGregor’s Beggars, students praise him as an inspiration in music and in life), and Leslie Moore (class of 1965, is noted for her dedication to athletics and DPS).
Coach Herman Motz and Choir Director John McGregor. Photo by Kendra Black
The fifth member inducted into the TJ Spartan Hall of Fame to many is said to be larger than life and is looked up to as a coach, teacher, leader, and mentor. Dr. Herman Motz during his time at TJ was head football coach from 1976-1989, still holding one of the best coaching records in the history of DPS winning 226 out of 275 games, and coached two state championship football teams. His many honors include multiple Football Coach of the Year Awards, induction into the Colorado High School Coaches Hall of Fame, DPS Hall of Fame, and the Colorado High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. He remains a significant and beloved member of the TJ community.
In addition to his induction into the Spartan Hall of Fame, Motz was honored with the dedication of the TJ athletic turf field. Through a petition and letters of support, a new stone plaque outside the field dated October 15, 2011 now recognizes Motz as well as a sign under the score board that reads, Herman Motz Athletic Facility. “I am grateful and appreciative for the honor,” said Motz at Saturday’s dedication ceremony.
TJ Dominates George in the Homecoming Game: 32-12. Photo by Kiera Classen
The eventful and busy morning Saturday at TJ also featured a TJ Alumni and Community Homecoming Tailgate Barbecue. TJ Spartans, old and current, gathered on the plaza in front of the school to enjoy lunch and prepare to attend the homecoming game to be played against the George Washington Patriots. The Spartans handled the Patriots in a way that invoked memories of past glory, defeating them by the score of 32-12.
In order to promote spirit, the different classes each created a unique float that were all paraded around TJ before heading to All City Stadium for the game. The Seniors and Freshmen collaborated in creating their floats, making a pirate ship showing George Washington Walking the Plank (Senior float) into a very TJ ocean (Freshman float). “I thought it was fun working with the Seniors to make a float because I got to be involved and take part in homecoming. I thought it was a really cool idea and for all the classes to get together and make their own float,” said Freshman Laine Stewart.
Photo by Alec Chuvarsky
The Homecoming dance concluded the week of festivities. Student Council members decorated the newly refurbished gym, transforming it into this year’s theme: a Black and White Affair. Over 550 tickets were sold to the dance, making it one of TJ’s best turnouts. “The dance was great; definitely one of my favorites. There were a lot of people there and they all seemed to be having fun. The gym and decorations looked awesome. It was a great last homecoming; it was a very memorable dance,” said Senior Cole Stewart.
With the support and spirit of TJ students, faculty, and alumni the Spartans celebrated a unique homecoming week saturating the school with Spartan pride.
