By Henry Luzzatto

Correspondent

While the Olympic Games promote unity between different nations and cultures, Lakeland High School used an Olympic theme to promote school togetherness.

Athletes, parents, staff and alumni gathered at Lakeland’s first Family and Friends Day on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the beginning of the fall sports season.

Lakeland activities director Gregory Rountree said the idea for the event came about when he was searching for ways to promote pride in the school.

“I noticed we didn’t quite have the togetherness between all the teams,” he said. “I want us to have that Lakeland pride.”

Rountree said he wanted the event to have an Olympic theme to represent the athletic skills of the fall sports teams.

The event began at 3 p.m., when members of the football, field hockey and cheerleading teams gathered around the football stadium. Parents and staff cooked hamburgers and hotdogs, and music played as the event’s activities prepared to start.

Rountree said the Family and Friends Day would officially start with a procession that would mimic the Olympic opening ceremonies.

The Lakeland drumline led the teams on a lap around the track, mimicking the parade of nations at the Olympics.

Lelia Bagbey, a member of the field hockey team, said being led out in a parade by the band was a fun experience.

“It was cool,” she said. “I love the band, and marching with them was really great.”

After the parade, students, staff and alumni gathered to sing the school’s alma mater, holding up the Lakeland “L” to show school pride.

A few minutes later, the school began its own version of the Olympic games, with several different events for the different teams to participate in.

The field hockey, cheerleading, football and coaching teams faced off against each other in a scooter relay race, a water balloon throwing contest and a kickball game.

The athletes said the event gave an opportunity for Cavaliers of different sports to have fun together.

“It’s good for us,” said DeAndre Baker, a junior on the football team. “It brings everybody in and shows we’re all family.”

Baker said it was meaningful to see the support for the football team ahead of their season.

“It feels great,” he said. “We didn’t get to do anything like this last year, so it’s good to see the support and send the seniors out with a bang.”

Rountree said the event allowed athletes of different sports to spend time with each other and interact with the students, parents, alumni and staff that give the school its identity.

In the past weeks, Lakeland has participated in alumni football and basketball games, with an emphasis on uniting the past and present of the school. Rountree said the Family and Friends day was the culmination of these plans to unite the school.

He hopes to turn the Family and Friends Day into a school tradition.

“We want them to know they’re all part of something big at this school,” he said. “We want to show the unity.”