With only 10 points separating the top three grades on Day Two of Spirit Week, lunch-time bleachers at Palo Alto High School filled with students decked out for Salad Dressing Day in anticipation of three new “Minute to Win It” competitions.

To celebrate Salad Dressing Day, seniors sported togas to go with the “Caesar” theme,  juniors rocked tropical attire  for the “Thousand Island” theme, sophomores brought out their inner cowboy and cowgirl as part of the “Ranch” theme and freshman played their part with athletic wear for “Healthy Choice.”

No time was wasted before the best dressed students from each grade were called up.  After a brief exchange of cheers, the first activity began, a race in which competitors were required to push an orange down a track with a banana attached to a string.  In a slow-moving but close race, freshman Claire Eberhart appeared to have finished in first place before being disqualified for kicking the orange.  Sophomore Quintin Valenti crossed the line next, followed by junior Tatiana Loops and finally senior Omri Newman.

After a disappointing start, the upperclassmen redeemed themselves in the second activity.  The participants “hut-hut-hiked” toilet paper rolls into a hula-hoop as fast as they could. Junior Chris Wilcox and senior Jack Cleasby finished in a tie. In a tie-breaker, Wilcox made two of five snaps, while Cleasby went zero for five.
In the final activity of the day, competitors attempted to bounce tennis balls into a bucket on their partner’s head. Seniors Caroline Moeser and Kian McHugh dominated, placing first, with freshman Ethan Stern and Talia Malchin coming in second.  In a tie-breaker, juniors Livi Musil and Jonathan Rojahn outcompeted sophomores Cassidy Kornfeld and Jack Tarlton to take third.

Some students enjoyed the new activities, all three of which made their Paly debut today.

“The new events were interesting and humorous,” senior Hope Crockett said. “I especially liked the bucket one.”

Others did not appreciate the new “Minute to Win it” competitions.

After a victory each for the sophomores, juniors and seniors, the race for first is likely still knotted up.  Winners of Best Dressed and Best Cheers will be announced, along with the current score of each class, after float building is finished tonight. Float building takes place after school, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m, in the Autoshop.