Hail Ignatius! Rah rah rah!! 

Students and athletes at Saint Ignatius College prep are preparing for the annual Winter Sports Pep Rally. The rally will highlight the  following varsity teams: boys and girls basketball, bowling, cheerleading, dance, hockey, boys swimming, boys and girls diving, and boys wrestling. The rally will be held in Gentile Gym packed with students on Friday, January 30th.

Pack Pride, the students spirit group, is preparing  to boost support for these teams and bring the energy to the school to kick off Saint Ignatius winter athletics. Senior Anna Stuart said, “I am so excited to make my last winter pep rally the best yet with intense competition and strong school spirit.” Pack Pride’s goal is to help athletes feel the strong support of their school community. 

In the pep rally, each team is introduced to the school one by one with walk out music. They each choreograph a unique routine and show their team chemistry. The walk-outs have become a strong and entertaining tradition that give the athletes a chance to show school spirit in their own ways. The gym is filled with music and school cheers to show their energy towards their teams. 

“The walk outs are my favorite part about the pep rally because I get to show the school how awesome my basketball teammates are.” Said Riley Schneider.

Along with team introductions, the rally will consist of performances from the cheer and dance teams who have been working hard preparing routines for the pep rally.  These performances will get the crowd excited and loud for the winter seasons. 

“I started dancing at Ignatius last year and I discovered that was what I was truly passionate about. I love the community I am a part of and I am so excited for my senior showcase as well.” Said senior Stella Wise.

There will also be a number of games and competitions involving the teachers and students with activities ranging from basketball musical chairs to relay races. 

Sophomore Genevieve Heidkamp said, “Participating in the teachers versus students basketball competition last year was so much fun and I hope to be a part of it this year also.” 

The school mascot “Iggy” will also be in attendance, to help lead cheers from the sidelines and encourage maximum noise from the school.

Coaches and athletes are hoping to have high attendance in their games and competitions this year. The winter season consists of many major events including the Jesuit Cup for girls and boys basketball. Saint Ignatius is hosting the Jesuit Cup on campus for the first time in the last six years.The Ignatius community very excited to hold this tournament on their home court in front of their fans. 

Loyola Academy has won for the last 4 years in the Jesuit Cup game against the Saint Ignatius boys team. The girls are 2-2 over the last four years and they defeated their rival, Loyola Academy, last year with a score of 49-43 despite being down by 15 points at halftime. Both teams are eager to compete again in the 2025-2026 season. 

Similarly, the hockey team competes in the Kennedy Cup which is the playoff championship trophy for the Chicago Catholic Hockey League (CCHL). This tradition is one of the oldest and respected competitions in Illinois high school hockey. 

Last year, Saint Ignatius beat Benet Academy to claim the Kennedy Cup. Saint Ignatius has 2 varsity teams: Gold (Varsity A) and Maroon (Varsity B). Both teams are working hard for their competitive winter season with intense competition. 

The boys hockey team continuously has memorable performances in the pep rally. They have done model walks, floor hockey, and more to get the school up and cheering.

The boys swimming and dive team are excited to show their strong team to the Wolfpack. Biko Hooper got state runner up last season in two of his events, the 500 freestyle and the 200 hundred freestyle. Last year they were hugely successful, placing 5th in state. “In the pep rally we usually lift up the freshman in the air and they pretend to swim. It has always been such a highlight to the season and because this is my last pep rally, I want to make it the best one yet.” Said senior Alistair Guth.

As the Pep Rally approaches, the winter athletes are working hard and  ready to start their season off strong. The loud crowds and spirited energy of the Winter Pep Rally will kick off their seasons with encouragement from all of the Saint Ignatius community.