Fists curled, arms pumping, voices roaring — I am surrounded. By a mob of wild-eyed, testosterone-fueled teenagers who are (over) enthusiastically chanting in a manner that would have made the “Lord of the Flies” boys look like harmless amateurs.

No, I’m not at a drunken high school party. It’s the annual, extremely competitive Homecoming rally at MVHS.

As a junior, I’m in the green face-painted, pom-pom-toting 2012 crowd. We’ve just lost Powderpuff and are out for full vindication. When it is our turn to cheer, the entire class screams like hunger-driven savages and the bleachers shake uncontrollably beneath me as hundreds of shoes mercilessly pound the stands. All I see is unrestrained pride, joy and bestiality in the faces of my unrecognizably green classmates. We want nothing less than to dominate, which is what we do.

After the class of 2012 receives first place, I’m surprised at the reactions of people. Some are almost crying with joy at the momentous “victory” over the seniors. A number of juniors converge in the Rally Court to take a memorable picture. And all the while, the rest of the school feels the brunt of the “loss” and rare is the smile from the senior crowd. Rumors of a scuffle between a senior and a junior reach my ears by lunchtime. 2012 gloats while some of 2011 describe the day as “one of the worst in their lives.”

Seriously?

It feels amazing to wear your class color and support the spirit of your entire grade. Many have described the MVHS rally experience with words like “exhilarating,” “unbelievable,” and even,  “the highlight of my high school experience.” With that being said, how much pride is too much, especially when it causes excessive bitterness?

Maybe it’s the competitiveness of MVHS that drives such bitter feelings towards defeat. Perhaps it’s because of the rich tradition of the Homecoming rivalry that students care so much. Regardless, there comes a time when the losers have to acknowledge that the winners, well, won.

At the Homecoming football game later that day, the Homecoming results are announced, and the seniors’ first place finish creates an uproar among the juniors. The senior class uses that victory to once again feel at top of the school, while many of other classes who feel that the scoring was inaccurate take to social networking sites like Facebook and Tumblr to complain. Not for a few hours. Not for the night. For days.

It’s simply ridiculous. There is a fine line between pride and hubris and it doesn’t take much for people to cross it. So it’s time to stop whining and gloating and start golf-clapping for all participants. Because Homecoming is simply too amazing of an experience to be ruined by immature, churlish behavior.