The school spirit in Dover’s buildings is one of the best that I’ve seen in Tuscarawas County. Everyone participates in dress-up days whether it’s for a football game or not. Everyone gets involved with activities like the dodgeball tournament, clubs every other Friday, pep rallies, or the end-of-year block party. When all of the staff and students get involved in these things, it makes the energy in the building better overall and makes people want to go back to school. Mrs. Grafe, Mr. Ayers, and Mr. Ifft also play their role in keeping the energy at the highest by interacting with the students and making sure everyone is doing their part. Just like the students, they also participate in pep rallies like getting pied, dressing up, or doing the dunk tank at the end of the year. I think the school staff that participates in these activities makes the students want to participate as well.
The student section at the football games is the best high school one I have been a part of. When we dress in the theme and have that Friday night energy, the athletes can see that and use it as motivation to keep going when we are down or to still play hard when we are up. It’s also a good way to learn the school chants you’ll use until you graduate. The student section isn’t only in football; we have them in basketball, soccer, volleyball, and many other sports as well.
The Marching Tornadoes are another part of our school spirit. They have always played their part in making the football games what they are and have done an excellent job at any event they go to. Mr. Redd and Mr. Carrick always make sure their job is done well. The Marching Tornadoes have also played at The Ohio State University’s football stadium. One of the best parts of the band is the Death March on any home game, especially Dover – Phila night. The Death March starts at the high school and goes through downtown until they reach Crater Stadium. They play loud and make sure the whole city of Phila can hear them coming their way that night. But the Death March is not where it ends, halftime shows and school songs in the band shells get everyone singing and pumped up. Not only during the marching season do they play well, but they have played in past competitions and will do their best this year as well.
You can’t have good school spirit without one of the oldest and biggest school rivalries like Dover – Phila. When this week rolls around each year, the people who didn’t dress up for the normal games will. The Dover – Phila game is always the best game of the regular season. With all the activities Mrs. Grafe and Mr. Ayers have lined up, it is the best five days you wouldn’t want to miss out on. On Friday, everyone wears white to blind Phila, participates in the pep rally at the end of the day, and goes to the bonfire to get the hype up on Thursday. The game this year should be pretty good even though it’s at Quaker Stadium. Our school spirit has and will always continue to be the best in Tuscarawas County.
