As school is back in session, anticipation is already high for Carmel High School’s (CHS) homecoming game on September 20.
The homecoming parade, which begins Friday at 1 p.m. at Lexington and Main and ends at the Monon on Main, is an opportunity for the school to showcase all the activities at CHS.
“Our parent groups are amazing,” says Amy Skeens-Benton, assistant principal. “We also have an incredible relationship with the fire department, police department, businesses and mayor’s office, all of whom help us continue these traditions that started when we were a small school in the middle of cornfields.”
She has fond memories of when she was a student at CHS. The football players had a “Top Gun” theme for the 1986 season, so the lineman wore “Top Gun” baseball hats around school.
“I was a sophomore and I thought they were giants,” says Skeens-Benton. CHS won the state championship that year, and current CHS Football Coach John Hebert was a player.
Carmel goes above and beyond when it comes to homecoming. For instance, the cheerleaders decorate storefront windows in downtown Carmel with permission. They also hang decorations around the outside of the school, adorn the football players’ cars and post encouraging signs in the locker room. Cheerleaders participate in a pregame family tailgate rally where they walk around to different tailgates dispersing candy, cups and paw-print temporary tattoos to get everyone fired up.
On September 10 at 7 p.m., CHS cheerleaders will host “Share the Spirit,” which will showcase routines from the elementary, middle and high school cheer routines. In lieu of an admission fee, they ask for canned-good donations, which they will give to a local Carmel charity.
“It’s a fun night of cheerleaders supporting cheerleaders,” says Brooke Kibler, CHS head coach of competition and football cheer.
As spirit ambassadors for the school, the cheerleaders get fans hyped for the Greyhounds by throwing T-shirts into the crowd, performing short, simple interactive sideline cheers, and collaborating with the DJ at home games to play fun music.
“We run out on the field with the Hounds carrying our Carmel flags,” says Kibler. “We also run them after each touchdown, along with ringing our touchdown bell.”
When they aren’t cheering on Friday nights, they’re practicing for their own competition season, as the squad participates at both the Indiana Cheer Championship in November and the national level in Orlando in February. The public can see the teams in action when they host a competition at CHS on October 12.
CHS’s marching band is a multifaceted ensemble and six-time national champion that’s been a national finalist for 27 consecutive years. The band has performed all over the world, including the Macy’s parade twice and the Tournament of Roses parade.
According to Chris Kreke, performing arts department chairman and associate director of bands, they’ve got a set routine in the pregame leading up to the national anthem and the teams entering the field; this helps to build excitement with the fans.
“It’s a blast to play the school song each time our awesome team scores,” says Kreke.
CHS’ halftime performances are portions of their competitive show, so that home crowds can see what the students are working on outside of the game-day experience.
“We’re excited about our upcoming season,” Kreke says. “Our nearly 300 members have been hard at work since June and we can’t wait to show everyone our progress at the first game.”
