On Friday, January 16th, during the Spirit Assembly Provo High’s Spirit Chair Ryan McCoard gave a stirring speech. He made a call for unity among Provo High students, citing school activities as perfect opportunities to come together as a student body.
With a rivalry basketball game that night, Ryan made a call to action. “Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, pups: nearly one year ago on this very court Provo High stood triumphant over Timpview High School,” Ryan began, going on to predict that PHS basketball would repeat the performance in their game later that night.
Ryan explained that on his way into the assembly, he had asked a few students if they were going to be at the basketball game against Timpview High School that night. Some students had said yes, others had said no, but there was one reply in particular that stuck in his mind. A student had answered, “Nah, I’m not really in that group.”
This troubled Ryan. The way he sees it, all of us attending Provo High are part of one big group. “We all need to be friends, and it’s not hard. Here’s an example just in my life,” he told us. “I know this girl, her name is Karalee Fisher, and she is maybe one of the smartest people I know. And I say words like sick, dope, righteous, most excellent, etc., and yet I would consider her one of my friends.”
“Provo High is just full of talent,” he announced. Girls golf won state last year, as did two of our divers. Kate Hunter, a sophomore, took first in state cross country. Addie and Ray are exceptional performers, and Max Hoopes is one of the best skiers in high school statewide. Hunter Bailey lead the state in points in the basketball preseason, and how many times has ballroom won another state championship?
Ryan went on to say that he had eaten a breakfast with Timpview’s student government the day before, and they thought Timpview’s student section would be superior to ours. “We are going to prove them wrong,” he declared. He instructed us to look around at everyone packed into the gym together.
“What if we all came tonight?” he queried. “Don’t think that, ‘Oh I’m just one person, I’m not going to make a difference.’ Stop thinking like that…If we all come then we help Provo High. We are all just individuals but together we can be great! And if your friends won’t come, come and we’ll be your friends. Together we will channel Provo High to a most triumphant victory over Timpview High School! […] Provo High, are you coming to the game tonight?”
Yes Ryan, we came to the game. We all came, united, and cheered our basketball team to a victory over Timpview that was most triumphant indeed!
The full recording of Ryan’s speech can be found below.
Written by Reece Robertson
