Students and fans celebrate school spirit at Greendale Homecoming Game

GREENDALE, Wisc. — The homecoming game is always memorable, especially when it involves two rival schools, Greendale and Greenfield.

“It’s definitely going to be a battle tonight. We’ll have a full student body, marching band, and cheerleaders, all in full uniform. It’s going to be Greendale,” said Greendale third-grader Zayd Cartagena.

Tess Zaja, a senior at Greendale Elementary School, said she looks forward to the battle every year, but this match feels bittersweet.

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“This will be my last dance, but I can’t wait to see my friends tonight and relive all the good times with them,” Zaja said.

Zaja and her friend from the Cartagena Student Government are the two students who inspired this celebration.

Watch: Students and fans celebrate school spirit at Greendale homecoming game

Students and fans celebrate school spirit at Greendale Homecoming Game

As a third-year student, Cartagena says he is excited to finally become a senior and make his mark on the big game.

“Today we’re chasing the Hawks, so it’s going to be a pretty tough game. There’s definitely some rivalry — there always has been — but it’s a special homecoming,” Cartagena said.

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Also fueling the school’s spirit is Jeff Schaetzke, a proud Panthers alumnus.

“To come back and share my experiences and watch these students succeed, do everything they know how to do,” Schaetzke said.

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Cartagena, Zaja and Schaetzke say the energy surrounding this homecoming week isn’t limited to the classroom, but spreads throughout the Greendale community.

“It was a big celebration in the cafeteria, in the classroom and at the dance tomorrow. Everything at Greendale — it was really a lot of fun,” Schaetzke said.

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