By Stephen Kindland
Staff writer
Austin Chartier, Jennings Jackson and T.J. Floyd outlasted 29 other three-person teams to secure their place in Roman chariot race history at
But all hail the Checker Chariot Company as well. That’s the theme Kevin Ameye, Dalton Fields and Alec Mezera gave their taxicab-yellow chariot, complete with black and white checkers and a plastic steering wheel. Their imaginations earned them the Most Creative Chariot award at what some believe was Greco-Roman Day XXI, held on Friday, Jan. XXIX.
“We don’t know who started it, but it’s been a tradition for at least 20 years,” said Judith Dougherty, who teaches social studies and works with parents to organize the annual toga fest. “The kids look forward to this every year; the anticipation is enough to kill them.”
Using plywood boards, PVC pipe, lawnmower wheels, bicycle tires and whatever else they could get their hands on, 90 sixth-grade students representing 30 teams either built their own rides or reconstructed chariots they inherited from neighborhood friends or older siblings.
Each chariot held a driver who was pushed or pulled down a 30-yard track, and it was X-Tra Credit, ridden by Chartier and powered by
Chloe Westmoreland, Lizzy Forsling and Taylor Record, who sat in for injured Ally Hale, won the girls division with their Geeky Greeks entry -- but not before a little drama at the start of their showdown against Aphrodite’s [heart] Cart, ridden by Dougherty’s daughter, Lauren, and pulled by Nicola Ritchie and Emily Cabrera.
“The handle came off,” a broken-hearted Ritchie said after Dougherty was sent head over heels when her chariot flipped to one side.
“I went over the edge,” added Dougherty, whose pride appeared to be more hurt than an arm still tender from a recent fracture. “I feel really bad. We practiced a lot in my cul de sac.”
Still, Greco-Roman Day was all it was meant to be, according to Kathy Ceronmiranda, whose daughter, Nydia, teamed with Abbi Anderson and Haleigh Thompson to create the aptly named – and accessorized -- Pink Lady.
“We were up at 5 o’clock this morning curling her hair,” the mother said. “She said it’s not just about the chariots; you have to look good, too.”
The Pink Lady may not have won, but it blended well with other chariots, including the psychedelic Groovy Goddesses and Minotaur, modeled after the Greek mythology creature with the head of a bull and body of a man.
Such enthusiasm was inspiring for Dougherty, who said this year’s Greco-Roman Day had the most entries in several years.
“This is one of our stronger academic groups with lots of parent participation,” she said. “It’s been interesting having my daughter involved, but we both managed.”
February 3rd 2010 - 11:38AM