Decatur students participate in colors day activities

DECATUR -- After a weeklong show of Bulldog pride, students from Decatur Middle and High Schools gathered at Peterson Gym in Decatur Dec. 15 for the annual colors day pep rally. Desi Meek and the Decatur cheerleaders hosted the hourlong event.

During the opening segment of the pep rally, the colors day court was introduced. As each maid and her escort made their appearance at center court, Elaine Christman, one of the event organizers, read a short biography on that maid and the escort.

This year's colors day court included senior maids Mailee Xiong, Emily Lydon and Johnna Herron; junior maids Bethany Bumgardner and Samantha Skaggs; sophomore maid Kaylee Morales; and freshmen maid Dora Hernandez. They were escorted by Alex Lee, Kenneth Hunt, Taylor Haisman, Levi Newman, Garry Woods, Dylan Wells and Jose Rubi. Esme Gibson was the crown bearer and Layne Doty served as the scepter bearer. The pair was accompanied by Desi Meek, who served as their escort and the cape bearer.

After the introduction of the court, the cheerleaders chose several players from the assembly to represent each senior-high class. Games included a potato bucket drop, linked-arms race, Ping-Pong ball race and the traditional tug of war. When the dust had settled, the senior and freshmen classes split the victories.

The pep rally concluded with the high school band and cheer team leading the student body in a show of Bulldog pride.

Just before the start of the Bulldog-Warrior senior boys' matchup, the colors day court was assembled one last time before parents, guests and fans for the announcement of the 2017 colors day king and queen.

Tension mounted as Christman slowly opened the envelope. And then it was announced. Taylor Haisman was named colors day king while Johnna Herron was crowned colors day queen.

Then it was on to the senior basketball contest. The Lady Bulldogs, along with the junior high girls' team, posted victories in their contests, while both the senior boys and junior high boys were defeated by fast-paced Warrior teams.

Overall, the colors day event was the middle- and high-school students' chance to express their individual pride in their team, their school and their community. A special thank you goes to the Decatur community for its part in making the annual event a great success.