Spectacular Spirit Schools Parade Their Pride In High School Rivalry Games With Funny Names And Prizes

Unless you’re East Valley High School assistant principal Mike Van Matre, there are two sides to every spirit game.

Some would consider them wretched excess and an insult to the game. Others like the sportsmanship and camaraderie generated between schools when the games are played.

For the uninitiated, that earthquake-like rumbling in the Valley tonight and Friday will be the aftershocks generated by fans during the tonight’s Stinky Sneaker game between University and Central Valley and Friday’s Golden Throne game between East Valley and West Valley.

All Van Matre knows is that for three of the four years he was assistant principal at WV and for the last three years he’s been at EV, his school has come away with the trophy.

“I don’t know how to explain it. It’s nothing I’ve done,” said Van Matre. “But I’m kind of partial to it.”

His principal at EV, Jeff Miller, could tell you what happened.

“We kicked his butt one year and he decided to come over here the next.”

The two were advisers to their respective Associated Student Body organizations and party to starting the Golden Throne in 1991, a year after CV and U-Hi started their Stinky Sneaker game.

Van Matre was talking to Jay Rydell, the retired CV athletic director who is now a chocolate fund-raiser representative, about it Monday morning.

“I asked him how and why it got started,” said Van Matre, “and he explained the rivalry was so intense that the game was moved to the Coliseum.”

The only reason they created the Stinky Sneaker, Rydell told him, was to assure a large crowd in the 7,000-seat building.

The shoe that became the traveling trophy was one of Rydell’s racquetball shoes.

Van Matre and Miller had helped resurrect the dormant interhigh senate, a leadership organization for ASB officers at the four Valley schools. They learned about the Sneaker and decided to start a spirit game between EV and WV.

Then-EV ASB president John Jackowich came up with the toilet idea and a brash quote about the EV juggernaut. WV won the game and the throne.

Over the ensuing years, the basketball games have become secondary to the spectacle - to the chagrin of some.

“It’s horrible,” said EV assistant principal Ray Stookey. “The tail is wagging the dog.”

EV teacher and coach Glenn Gunderson said he is all for the spirit thing, but thinks that the game should be the spectacle itself.

“You can’t hardly see the game,” he said. “I’ve quit going.”

Besides, Gunderson added, “a toilet bowl is demeaning.”

The kids don’t seem to mind that their symbol of spirited rivalry is a $35 porcelain potty, the second such item purchased for the game.

The first was shattered several years ago when exhuberant Eagle partisans leaped upon the dolly carrying the throne and it fell off and shattered.

“The kids like it,” said WV ASB president Alex Donaldson. “They like the irony. Some people have Rubber Chickens and Stinky Sneakers. Why not a toilet? Everybody has one.”

Added WV ASB vice president and girls basketball player Dana Vermeers, “It’s a symbol.”

So what if basketball is secondary? The players try to shut out the side show, said Vermeers. Donaldson admits he is not a regular basketball attendee, but wouldn’t miss the Golden Throne game.

“All my friends are there and it’s a time to go crazy, paint your faces and bodies,” he said.

EV student activities coordinator Augusta Jolley likes it so much she was instrumental in promoting a similar Golden Plunger activity for the EV-WV wrestling match, much like the Battle of the Bone between CV and U-Hi.

“It’s special,” she said. “It gets people together.”

WV and EV student leaders judge the Stinky Sneaker. CV and U-Hi leaders reciprocate at the Golden Throne. Scoring, 1-10, is based on sportsmanship, display of colors, cheer intensity, and student and parental participation.

Both Miller and Van Matre marveled at the increase in parental involvement at the four schools. Parents, along with students, pack the respective gymnasiums with color and provide the noise.

Eagle basketball coach Joe Feist admitted that the circuslike atmosphere can be distractive.

Last year at EV, so many routines and skits took place that the players had to wait around to take their turn on the floor.

Because of the heat generated by the throng, WV’s gym floor in years past has become moist and slippery.

But Feist has come to accept the inconvenience.

“It gets kids in who might not normally come to a game,” he said. “They might enjoy it and keep coming back.”

Besides, this year the rules have been tightened up to avoid a repeat of last year’s delays. The boys game, which follows the girls contest, will start a half-hour later to allow most of the routines to take place.

“It’s not ideal, but I think it will be better,” said Feist.

“The community likes it and the kids like it. And we’re in the kid business.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos (1 Color)

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: That’s the spirit When the Valley’s basketball rivals meet in their annual spirit games, the antics of the fans can be as entertaining as the action on the court. Central Valley and University will compete for the Stinky Sneaker tonight at CV. The girls game begins at 6 p.m., followed by the boys game at 8. East Valley and West Valley will compete for the Golden Throne on Friday at WV. The girls game begins at 6 p.m., followed by the boys game at 8:15. School officials recommend arriving early, particularly at WV where seats have sometimes filled as early as 5 p.m.