Coral Gables Senior High School introduced its fall sports teams to a packed auditorium of students organized by grade color at the school's first pep rally of the 2026-27 school year on Friday, Aug. 21.

Bowling, swimming, cross country and volleyball each sent representatives to the stage as students roared from the seats. The girls volleyball team used its moment to rally attendance for an upcoming match against MAST Academy.

Sophomore Ethan Berkovitz represented the cross country team. "It was a little nerve-wracking being on the stage, with all the faces looking up at us, but it was definitely cool to see everyone really hyped," Berkovitz told CavsConnect, the school's student newspaper.

The football team also took the stage, introduced by coaches including Buddy Howell, a former Cavalier who returned to coach at his alma mater. Howell urged students to pack the stands for the team's rivalry game against Miami Senior High.

Beyond the sports introductions, the rally doubled as a class-spirit showdown. Freshmen wore grey, sophomores black, juniors white and seniors crimson red. Each student wore three accessories in their grade's color. CavMan sprinted through the seats waving the Cavalier flag while the cheer team and school band performed.

The energy stayed high. Juniors won a human-pyramid contest, and senior Jaime Rojas claimed a $25 gift card in a wig-snatching game. A grade-versus-grade dance battle closed the competitions, with the senior representative earning the loudest applause.

Junior Siena Van de Graaf sang the school's Alma Mater to close the event, with the full auditorium joining in.

The Cavaliers volleyball team's next match is against MAST Academy, and the football team's rivalry game against Miami Senior High is ahead.