Biola’s new pep band made their debut at Midnight Madness, adding a lively addition to the annual basketball season kick-off.

a real step up for Biola

“I think it was a real step up for Biola. I feel like it’s a really great event and the pep band could add a lot of atmosphere to… the great atmosphere that’s already here. I feel like it had a lot of spirit,” said Joshua Durant, sophomore music and worship major and drummer for the pep band.

The pep band consisted of current students and alumni with a variety of different instruments and they will continue to play at basketball games throughout the coming season.

As the band played “The Land of 1000 Dances” and “I Want You Back,” the Biola cheerleaders pumped up the crowd with their own routines. The pep band continued to play as Xopoc performed a brief dance routine, standing in rows along two sides of the gym.

“I think it was so much fun just to be part of, like, the pep rally that Biola puts on every year,” said Anolyne Dacoron De Guzman, junior psychology major. “It was a little disappointing not having my own set, but I think I can speak for Xopoc in saying that we care more about Biola. We 100 percent support Biola Dance Crew and we were so happy to be a part of it.”

The dance was the first performance this semester for Xopoc, rather than having performances at both Punk ‘N Pie and Midnight Madness. Instead, the team has been preparing for a show they will host in the spring, which will include other Biola dance teams as well.

Emphatic dunks

The women and men’s basketball teams hyped the crowd by playing in a three-point competition. Athletes from both teams took turns shooting three-pointers, with the women edging ahead of the men only slightly. The last round included Emma Newman, sophomore forward, who made the winning shots as the rest of the team cheered loudly beside her.

“It was a team effort, that was awesome. I was just going out there to shoot and have fun, but we won, so that’s cool,” Newman said.

From the men’s team, freshman forward Cameron Griffin and junior forward Alex Talma participated in a second competition by aiming to dunk the most basketballs. After three chances each, Talma won the competition.

“I feel excited, I’m happy to have won it this year. It’s an honor to come out here and put on a show for everybody. It’s a really good atmosphere, adrenaline’s flowing, I’m just feeling good right now,” Talma said.

The event ended with a countdown to the second annual balloon drop for the event and the annual dance party.