By Adolfo Miliano
Lehman College held its 2024 Pep-Rally for the Spring semester on February 29th, at the Main Gym of the Apex building. 71 students participated in the event and cheered for their fellow student-athletes. The college hosts Pep rallies at the beginning of every semester to promote the sports teams.
Upon arriving at the Pep Rally, students were provided with food and beverages at the entrance of the Main Gym. During the event, students were introduced to the Spring Sports teams playing this semester, which include Men’s Volleyball, Baseball, and Women’s Softball. Soon after, the audience got to engage in many activities organized by the sports teams. A total of 7 mini-games took place, ranging from Volleyball to Tennis, from Baseball to musical chairs. All students participated in these activities and connected with their peers. At the end of each mini-game, the winners were awarded prizes like keychains, stickers, and water bottles. Overall, these activities familiarized students with Lehman’s sports teams and provided them with a fun afternoon.
Some Lehman students shared their thoughts about the event. “It was a fun gathering,” said Lehman student Zakh Duncan. “We got to play games and meet new people.” Another student, Angel Matute, shared: “I feel like this is a way to get people active. College can be stressful so maybe this can get them energized.”
Osman, a sophomore who is part of the Volleyball team, said, “I liked that every team tried to make a cohesive event for people to come and enjoy. It's not every day that people can come to the campus and have an organized event to relax at.” Additionally, he also reflected on how these kinds of events can help the school teams perform better, especially on home grounds. “I think this can be a morale boost,” he said. “Playing on the court you practice on is a very big positive. It boosts your confidence.” The Men’s Volleyball team played against Baruch College on the same day as the Pep Rally, with a final score of 3-0 in favor of the hosts. Throughout March, Lehman College hosted 6 Volleyball games, 4 Baseball games, and 3 Softball games.
Ryan McCarthy, the Director of Athletics at the Apex Facilities, expressed, “I think it is a really good event because it unites students from between teams who might not get a chance to meet and interact with other students, and students from outside of athletics who might not get to interact with student-athletes.” he highlighted. “So being a commuter campus, it’s probably all more important to do these kinds of events. They’ve been really well attended by both athletes and the student body.” The next Pep-Rally student can look out for would be during the beginning of the Fall Semester, where students will be introduced to the Fall Sports Teams which include Men’s Soccer, Men’s Basketball, Men’s Cross Country Women’s Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer, and Women’s Tennis.
