The trash talking has already begun as the school gets ready for the student vs. faculty basketball game.
“The staff is always cheating,” Senior Coach Kylie Wells said, echoing a common complaint by the students.
While on the other hand, the staff is boasting.
“The students are not being very good, but keep saying they are going to beat us,” Coach Bo Patton said, preaching for the staff.
On Friday, Merrillville High School will be holding its annual student vs. faculty game. There has been a lot of talk on the streets (or hallways) about who may win this game.
After the staff’s decade-long winning streak, who will take the cake this year?
With confidence running high, Coach Patton didn’t hold back his thoughts on the upcoming matchup. “I went to their senior practice and they were terrible,” he said, “so I feel really good. I’m probably going to score like 40 points on them.”
As the countdown begins ticking for Friday, both students and staff are apprehensive. The air begins to thicken as rumors swirl about both teams, fueling excitement and anticipation. With bold claims from both sides of the playing field, and confident predictions being thrown around, the court is set for an intense showdown.
“I feel like he can go for 50 if they don’t guard him the way he needs to be guarded; Bo is definitely a threat to the team,” Senior Coach Kylie Wells said.
The students are eager to prove themselves, Wells said, but she acknowledged the challenges ahead.
“I feel excited to coach the students,” she said, “because I knew that I couldn’t play, so I wanted to be one of the coaches, but our skill this year isn’t that good so all I can really say is a prayer and hope that the staff doesn’t score a hundred.”
Taking the court for the seniors will be: Sean Patterson, Darnell Matthews, Keyshawn Jones, Nathan Gills Jr., Kendall Guilbert, Tyree Andrews, Maurice Ward, Terrell Savage, Kurtis Cruz, Jeremiah Weaver, Jordan Miles, Quitman Ireland, Xamare Martin and Micah Herrod.
The competitive tension between students and staff is nothing new, and as game day approaches, the rivalry only intensifies. Both sides are eager to claim victory, and Coach Patton makes it clear where he stands.
“It’s always a rivalry between students and teachers because they always think they can beat us, and they never will,” he said.
Joining Coach Patton on the faculty team will be Asst. Coach Dave Pritt, Mr. Joey Traina, Mr. Josh Belko, Mr. Daniel Klimczak, Mr. Jermel Nelson, Mr. Jason Sonnenberg, Mr. Conor Buxton, Ms. Jamia Davis, Mr. Paul Unterfran, Mr. Thomas Mackey, Mr. Jeremy Herrod, Ms. A.J. Downs, Mr. Mileek McMillan, Mr. Adam Johnson, Mr. Britton Johnson, Mr. Cameron Ashley, Mr. Nick Riley and Mr. Jacob Van Doren.
Senior Class Sponsor Angela Escobedo downplays the rivalry, emphasizing the spirit of the day.
“I think that having these pep rallies,bringing all of these kids together, getting them out of class really brings a sense of being a Pirate in Merrillville,” she said.
“They get to have, you know, friendly competitions against each other. I think it’s nice bringing everyone together, celebrating the successes of all the clubs and stuff.”
Overall, it’s a great way to celebrate the final day before a week off for Spring Break.
“I think it’s one of the best displays of school pride because we get the whole school coming together for a common purpose,” Coach Patton said. “The teachers want the staff to win, the students want the seniors to win. Either way no matter who wins, I think it’s a great game for everyone to enjoy, have fun and then just kind of bond.”
