The definition of traditions is the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation or the fact of being passed on in this way. Most people may not know this, but Marshfield High School has a lot of amazing traditions. In the high school some students tend to just see their teachers as the mean person who gives them homework, but if you actually sit down and talk to them you would learn that some of them have some pretty amazing stories to share that they have gathered over the years.

MHS history teacher David Grey has been teaching at the high school for many years. Even though Grey has been in the same room, room 105 since day one, his most memorable tradition is with Cross Country. Grey has been coaching Cross Country for 10 years and head coach for 7 years.

“Every year we [cross country team] take a trip to Jefferson City. We visit and go through the capital and after we are done, we have dinner at Arris Pizza, across from the capitol building.” Grey said.

Another favorite tradition Grey had to share was running in the homecoming parade each year. He even has a picture of his junior high runners from after the parade, including some of this year’s seniors.

Last year’s MHS graduate Tabitha Weber, also had a favorite memory to share about her cross country coach. Weber said, “My favorite tradition would be when he writes on our hands pre-race. He’ll write motivational stuff and encouraging stuff to help us get through the race.”

Another favorite tradition that is still going on today is Prom King and Queen. Everyone’s favorite MHS librarian, Breanna Rost, shared the story that started it all.

“When I was a senior that was the first year they had Prom King and Queen. This was at the prom in 2000. Mitch Espy was the king and I was the queen. They have had Prom King and Queen every year since 2000,” Rost shared.

Not every school tradition still goes on today. David R. Johnson is in the special education department at MHS. He has been full time since halfway through last year and is currently finishing a degree in special education.  Johnson graduated from Marshfield, as well as played football for the school.

“One tradition I remember from Marshfield school was that the cheerleaders always put pictures on all the sports players lockers with slogans like ‘Beat those Ava bears’…and so on…it was always a lot of fun to come and see what was on your locker each game day,” said Johnson.

Ever since the beginning of schools there has always been cliques that people fall into in the high school. A clique is a narrow exclusive circle or group of persons; especially one held together by common interests, views or purposes. One group that tends to stand out at MHS are the so called “hicks.” The definition of a hick is a person who lives in the country, regarded as being unintelligent or provincial. The people that tend to fall into this group are some of the students that are apart of FFA. They are by no means unintelligent. They are actually smart and kind and they do projects that will help the world.

The student parking lot at MHS is also broken up into two groups. The first group is the perfect attendance students up front, followed by the rest of the students mixed in. The second group is the “hicks,” which park in the very back row of the parking lot. Senior Thomas Carlisle said, “My favorite tradition would have to be all the hicks parking in the back row.”

By far the favorite tradition for many of the students would have to go to senior pranks. Senior pranks are pranks on the school that the seniors do every year on their last day at the high school. Every year there is a new prank from the graduating seniors.

Senior Tai Keowan said, “I look forward to the senior pranks. Last year’s was trashing the school, not very good, and the year before that was all the cups and confetti everywhere. The cups was my favorite. It was messy and creative.”

No matter what is happening in the school or the world, these traditions give hope and they bring people together. It doesn’t matter if they have been going on for years, ended years ago or just started this year. These traditions will live on, whether they are still going on years from now or they end. They have brought so much joy and happiness to the lives of people and at the end of the day that is what really matters.