Pirate Fans Gather For Annual All Sports Kickoff

By MACY MORGAN

Moapa Valley Progress

As the 2016-2017 school year started go underway, the Moapa Valley High School Booster Club welcomed valley residents and Pirate fans to the annual All Sports’ Kickoff. Students, parents, children, faculty and many others gathered on the soccer field on the evening of August 29 for a great time.

The evening “kicked off” at 6 pm with a complimentary dinner of hot dogs and hamburgers with chips and homemade cookies for dessert. The dinner was provided, prepared and served by the Boosters and the Moapa Valley Rotary Club. Free shaved ice was also offered by Tiffany’s Pies and Subs owners Scott and Linda Carson.

Student athletes played helped by providing activities at his kickoff event. Each team put together a game for children, fellow students, and anyone who wanted to try.
During the evening’s activity, children got the opportunity to play their favorite sports with the best athletes in the school. The volleyball team set up a net and encouraged many to share in the fun. Those who accepted the invitation joined in games of competitive, yet friendly, volleyball games alongside the varsity team.

The boy’s soccer team offered up their varsity goalie and allowed any who dared to take a free kick. Patrons could also learn how to juggle a soccer ball and how to perform a “volley” with the girls’ soccer team.

The girl’s soccer teams also surprised the crowd by spontaneously performing a traditional Mexican dance, Payaso de Rodeo at the dinner. Several people from the crowd joined in having never done the dance before.
The Pirate Motion dance team performed some of their dances for the audience and also put on a game of musical chairs for which the prize was a free t-shirt.
The cheerleaders provided MVHS-spirited face paintings. They also sold Pirate gear as a part of their annual fundraiser.

The swim team set up dozens of water-filled plastic cups on a table for their game. Contestants would attempt to toss Ping Pong balls into the cups. The swim team also supplied water bottles so that competitors could attempt to throw their bottle in the air and have it land right side up. This peculiar, yet entertaining activity is popular with today’s youth.

One of the more popular attractions of the evening was the infamous Dunk Tank that the cross-country team brings to the kickoff. Attendees of any age were allowed to surrender themselves to the power of those throwing the ball. They sat with nervous anticipation as they watched their peers attempt to hit the target with the ball and send them into the water beneath.