The familiar ring of the KHS alma mater has been echoing throughout KHS athletic complexes for years. These traditional renditions are known and sung by all students of KHS for many different occasions. Recently, a newer version has begun to fill the air. This version has the same lyrics but is sung with an echo added to the song creating a vibe. The echoing version has been adopted by the KHS football team and is tradition to be sung every game day on the cement “K” in Lyons Field. “I think it’s a great tradition and [it] brings us together more,” Casey McGuire, senior and varsity football player, said.  “This tradition is the one time the team can relax and be a little bit goofy on game day.”

Kirkwood softball has been in a rut these past few years. However, the team is confident about this years’ season. They plan on tallying some wins and looking fashionable while doing it. It is the KHS softball’s team tradition to wear a red hair bow during their games. “The hair bows are nice, they help bring some feminism to the game,” Kelsey Cross, senior, said. The players appreciate the fact they can look good even if the score board isn’t as pretty. “It’s nice to look cute when we’re on the field,” Cross said.

Imagine waking up in bed, surrounded by the laughing faces of upperclassmen teammates.  This is not an uncommon scenario for the freshman and sophomore girls participating in field hockey. For years, the upperclassmen on the field hockey team have been kidnapping their underclassmen freshman and JV team little “sisters” from their beds. “I was really surprised two years ago when I was kidnapped,” Julia Mullendore, junior, said, “but it was a good way to get to know the upperclassmen.”  Mullendore plans to continue this fun bonding activity, but this year she is excited to be the one doing the kidnapping.

Girls’ tennis has been successful in the past few years.  Many in the Kirkwood community believe it is the excellent coaching and personal instruction the players are receiving. Some believe the players are just naturally good enough to perform how they have been. Then, there are some who believe there might be another reason the girls’ tennis team is so victorious. This belief lies in the power of the KHS girls’ tennis Spirit Stick. Every match the players bring the Spirit Stick for luck. After a match is won, the girls run around the court with the stick in the air. “The Spirit Stick is a really fun tradition, everyone enjoys it,” Emma Whiting, junior, said. Whether the Spirit Stick possesses luck or not is beyond anyone, but according to Whiting, it does seem to be working.

The girls’ varsity volleyball team projects themselves to be a power house in their conference this season. They are focused on living up to their expectations and their team’s tradition might just give them the edge they need. “Before a big game coach will take us into a dark room and we will put our heads down, then she will pep us up for the oncoming game,” Emily Ferguson, senior, said. Ferguson believes this tradition to truly work and gets the team mentally prepared to win. She feels this tradition might just be the boost the team needs to stay on top.

Every year around the same time, students and teachers stop in the halls and just stare. They are not staring at the agenda or materials needed for their class posted on the door. They are staring at a group of students walking down the hall who look like a bipolar Edward Scissorhands just cut and dyed their hair. These students are all a part of the KHS swim team and just the night before they attended their annual hair-cutting party.  “I think the hair-cutting party is a great way for us as a team to end the year,” Michael Miller, senior, said. This tradition does not alter the swimmers’ times, but according to many swimmers it really brings the team together.  “It’s always a good time and helps us bond a little more before going to conference,” Miller said.