This year will mark the 30th anniversary of the well-loved LHS tradition, Pack the House.
Pack the House, started in 1994 by spirit squad Coach Gwenneth “Junior” Wedd, kicks off the start of winter sports, and is a night filled with prizes to be won, countless dance routines, and basketball scrimmages.
Senior basketball player JJ Dos Santos appreciates Pack the House as an opportunity for the team to shine before getting into the regular season.
“I’m definitely most excited for the basketball scrimmage,” Dos Santos said. “It’s fun having a game before our first game, and just to be able to play in front of the crowd.”
![](https://lhsbudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PTH_120224_LydiaFolks20241202_8829-600x400.jpg)
Since its origin, Pack the House has expanded, with each year building off of the last.
“The first year was an experiment. We mostly scrimmaged and the cheer team and dance teams performed. It wasn’t really exciting,” Wedd said. “The basketball coaches learned to modify their scrimmage and we started adding performances from faculty. Seniors, cheer, dance, and basketball teams started doing routines. Wrestling and swimming got in the act too. The choir does the National Anthem and School Songs.”
Much like the fall sports Jamboree, Pack the House celebrates the beginning of winter sports and school culture in general. Junior and third-year cheerleader Sophia Hertach said she appreciates the opportunity to reignite school spirit at the end of the first semester.
“A lot of schools have something to introduce fall sports but not a lot of schools have something for winter sports. It’s a fun way to regroup in the middle of the year, and I think it’s a really fun event to shine light on winter sports as well, not just football,” Hertach said.
A central aspect of Pack the House is a celebration of school diversity, showcasing various student groups from boys swim and dive to the unity step team.
Dos Santos believes schoolwide participation is key to a successful Pack the House.
“I think it’s just important to get everyone involved. Get everyone out, outside of school,” Dos Santos said. “I think it’s just a good way to show off the student body and the tradition here.”
While being a celebration for the whole school, Pack the House helps the basketball teams prepare for their season.
“It means a lot to us, and it’s always a fun way for us to come together and build our team chemistry,” senior girls basketball player Nyasia Ramos said.
Although many individuals devote hours to preparing for Pack the House, Wedd has been central to the organization of the event since its beginning, spending months organizing spirit routines, prizes, and much more.
“Junior is the one who organizes it. She’s the one who everyone talks to when they have questions about it. She’s the one who makes the schedule for it, she runs the whole show, she’s amazing,” Hertach said.
2024 marks the 30th year since the first Pack the House, and it certainly won’t be the last.
“I hope we can continue to spread school spirit, engage students in being a part of something fun, and work to continue to do things to help our community,” Wedd said.