The day the whole school has been waiting for is going to be here before everyone knows it. Jan.19, students from Sandpoint will travel to Rathdrum for Battle for the Paddle, the ultimate annual rival competition.
Lakeland has won the paddle for the last four years, ready to make it five.
Battle for the paddle consists of various competitions between the schools, including who’s school has the most spirit, who can raise the most money, which school can make the most noise, a lip sync that goes with each school’s theme, a girls and boys basketball game, wrestling matches and a cheer routine competition.
The theme for Battle for the Paddle this year will be Rock n’ Roll.
However, Battle for the Paddle takes a lot of preparation that a lot of people do not realize.
“Student council has a lot of work to do for Battle for the Paddle,” Ben Ryan said. “We have to figure out the t-shirt designs, tickets, fundraisers, planning the assembly. After Christmas break, we are going to be in full Battle for the Paddle mode.”
In order to keep winning the paddle, the student body will have to work together and try even harder than ever.
Even with the four wins in a row against Sandpoint, the Hawks have to be careful to not underestimate Sandpoint.
They are coming with one goal in mind: to take the paddle.
“You start to think it’s a given win after a few years of winning, and you forget all the work the school and community puts into winning every year, and I don’t want people to take it for granted,” Ryan said. “Sandpoint is going to come here ready to take the paddle.”
LHS thrives with school spirit, and the student body is determined to win the paddle. However, everyone needs to make sure they are following the Battle for the Paddle rules.
This means having good sportsmanship before the event by not posting anything negative towards the rival school and making sure everyone is energetic and positive.
“We are for sure going to have to win the sportsmanship award and for sure win the fundraising award,” Jimmy Hoffman, LHS principal, said. “We are going to have to win the sporting events to win the paddle for the 5th year in a row. But it has to be that order. We have to win the sportsmanship award. You can kiss the paddle goodbye if we do not win the sportsmanship award.”
Along with the sportsmanship, the players who are competing in the games and matches can feel how different the atmosphere is.
“Instead of going out there just to win, we are going out there to show that we are better than them. It is way more fun to wrestle,” Senior Duke Williamson said. “We are preparing by going hard in the paint and standing on business.”
Battle for the Paddle takes place on Jan 19 at Lakeland High School.