At rallies, we wear PINK

MCHS dance team performing a combo at the Homecoming Rally on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Jean-Michel Nhat Hudson)

By Eva Cruz, Staff Writer, and Caeden Chee, Staff Writer

Maria Carrillo High School held its first rally of the year on Sept. 18, 2026. Hosted by ASB President Gabe Goodrich and Vice President Lucas Famini, who appear in complimenting pink tutus, the rally featured a variety of fun activities for students of all grades to indulge in.

It began with a brief hype video highlighting the football team prepping for the game with Pawco Puma and displaying a series of photos showcasing their strength and determination.

Afterwards, there was a dance battle between Pawco Puma and The Trojan, the mascot of our opposing team, where our beloved mascot won by a landslide.

The cheer team then performed a spectacular routine consisting of a multitude of impressive jumps to high balancing formations, while being in total synchronization with one another, once again highlighting their hard dedication towards the sport.

Following the performance was a short battle between the grades in “mattress sliding,” where students took turns running and diving onto a mattress to propel it forward in which the seniors won.

However, the fun was nowhere near done. To continue the games, there was a wig snatching competition between the grades where people ran around trying to pull wigs off of each other's heads. The winner is the last person standing with a wig still on their head. After a tough battle, the game was won by Nathan Tejeda, securing a win under the juniors’ belts.

Following that, the dance team provided an eye-catching performance where they showcased their fine coordination skills through dancing to a compilation of high energy songs.

The announcement of Homecoming royalty nominees was also a prominent feature of the rally. 

To close it out, there was a “mattress roll” game between the different homecoming court teams. Each team was composed of the three homecoming court nominations of each grade. The objective of the game was to roll a mattress across the gym with people acting as “wheels” as one person rode on top. Originally, the sophomore team had won, but due to a member falling off of the mattress, it led to a disqualification. In the second match, after a close call, the seniors won yet again. 

Overall, the rally proved to be a fun and exciting experience for all students who attended, especially the freshmen, as it was their first Carrillo rally ever.