Lisbon pep band fires up fans, warms cold nights

LISBON - It's a cold winter's night in Lisbon, but inside the Lions' Den, school spirit runs warmly throughout the crowd thanks to the Lisbon High School pep band.

Although the performances are much more relaxed and fun when compared to a concert or marching performance, these students still take their jobs seriously. They enjoy playing pop songs that get the crowd and student section involved. Some of the popular go-to songs are 'Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond and 'Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes.

Most of the time, fans can watch junior Renae Hasselbusch and senior Abbie Larson directing the pep band, fulfilling the position of drum major. Hasselbusch said her favorite part of directing the band is 'being with her peers and hearing the song come together.”

Not only does the band support the teams playing at the time, they support each other. Junior Kyla Hansen said when she was in the half-court shot contest this year, her fellow band mates were all cheering for her, even though she missed the shot by about 10 feet. She also said they have supported her as she started a new instrument this year, playing the baritone instead of the flute.

Hasselbusch also brought up the point of the family-like atmosphere when she noted her fondest memory of pep band was when 'Chris Cannon, Cody Techau and I played ‘Seven Nation Army' as loud as humanly possible on our trombones.”

Senior Natalie Ott said her favorite memory was blending the pep band dress-up themes with the student section theme that night, which blasts even more school spirit into the atmosphere of the already rocking Lions' Den.

Lisbon's pep band has a rich tradition of supporting others, and they like to be supported by students and parents. They band will play at halftime of the varsity girls' basketball games and varsity boys' games, as well as between the two games.