Months of choreography, timing, and dancing all come together in the Blake High School gym on a freezing cold morning in the middle of nowhere. The fourteen members on the Blair Pom squad, which is a sport akin to cheerleading, but more artistic and preformed with pom poms, are about to perform in their first Division three competition of the season.

"I was excited," enthused Senior An Tran. "I had high expectations." The Blazers preformed third after the Gaithersburg and Bethesda-Chevy Chase (B-CC) teams.

The Blazers strode out in a straight line, and then walked into a perfect formation, heads down, arms at their sides. Up above, their names flashed in different colors on the scoreboard. Senior co-captain Jill Granados stepped forward did a high kick, and their routine began.

The squad had chosen time as their theme, so they danced, and kicked to clips of songs such as Muse's "Our Time is Running Out," Madonna's "Hung Up," and Gwen Stefani's "What You Waiting For?" The Blazers performance was very unique, including not only the trademark rocket kick line, but also used their pom-poms to create a clock which then exploded.

The girls finished with no noticeable mistakes, and walked proudly out. "I think we did really well," affirms Tran. Now they only had to wait for the judges opinions.

The rest of the event unfolded nearly as flawlessly as the Blazers performance had. The other seven teams had excellent performances that were very imaginative, including a voiceover from Forrest Gump, a drum line backup, sparkly diamonds, and recitation of a team's mission statement.

However, there were a couple goof ups. The captain of the B-CC team landed badly on her ankle in the opening, but she completed the routine with little noticeable difficulty. In addition, Clarksburg dropped a pom-pom, forcing the girl to continue with only one.

As the seventh and final team completed their routine, the crowds rose to their feet, cheering wildly.

This was not innocent cheering, however. In addition to trophies awarded to the squads, the team whose fans were the most supportive received an additional "spirit award." For this reason there were various mascots, signs, shakers, and motivators scattered throughout the crowds, most of whom were wearing their school colors. In the end the spirit award went to Gaithersburg High school, who not only had their mascot present and had supporters overflowing out of the Gaithersburg section, but had coordinators leading a wave in the crowds throughout the competition. But as the judges rose to deliver the final verdict, the gym was oddly quiet.

Backstage, confidence was high. "I thought we were going to win," smiles Nathaly Lobo. Even competing team Clarksburg felt confident in the Blazers impending success.

Alas, as the teams were announced and the trophies distributed, the results were not as favorable as hoped. Blair placed fourth, behind Gaithersburg, Clarksburg, and Springbrook, who stole first.

Though disappointed, the team was not discouraged. "Last year we placed seventh," states Tran, who has high hopes for their next competition.

The Blazerettes, though they didn't get the fame and glory, still feel they had an excellent performance and that the competition really brought the team together. "We were prepared and together," states Lobo proudly.

The team feels that with a little more work their routine will be unbeatable, so come out and support them at Northwestern High School on February seventh!

A surprising number of Blair students will be dragging themselves out of bed to participate in the festivities, though in a multitude of different ways. The event has 2,030 confirmed guests on facebook (though not all are from Blair) but it seems that every student has a different plan for the twentieth.

Juniors Diane Adamson, Julie Radomski, and Anya Kozarsky are part of a Girl Scout troop that will be handing out American flags and directing tourists around the mall.

"We're getting to the metro at 4:30 in the morning!" wails Kozarsky, who is not excited about the time or the cold. "I'm going to wear lots of layers, and fill my pockets of each of my layers with food." But Kozarsky is thankful for the opportunity to get such a privileged viewing spot for the inauguration. "It's history. You HAVE to be there," she affirms.

Radomski has the same views as Kozarsky, and doesn't understand why people wouldn't want to come down. "It's important to experience history. It's exciting that we get to participate, and everyone should come if they can."

Many people though, are not willing to brave the crushing crowds and chaos that will most certainly ensue from the four million people on the mall at one time. "Why would you want to go?" questions a skeptical student Anna Zakas, who feels watching it from home will be much better and more relaxing. Many students are in same boat as Zakas, and are taking a much nonchalant approach to the Inauguration. Sophomores Alexis Fennell and Angela McPhaul will be sleeping in then most likely watching the event from their houses.

However, not all Blair students will be able to attend the Inauguration, even if they wanted to, because though school might be canceled, all events are not. Ice hockey player Andrew Tran, for example, will be representing Blair not at the Inauguration, but on the rink at the Blair Hockey game.

Some students will be using the day not as a day to relax or celebrate but as a day to work and fundraise. Tenth grader Alessandra Montovani will be fundraising for "O-ambassadors," which is a project she is doing with school and the Oprah Winfrey show. Students have to complete a "change project," in which they form groups and create a project that will benefit the community in some way. Montovani says she is not going to waste the fact that 4 million rich tourists will be at one place, and will be down on the mall, fundraising for her project.

And of course, there are the select few lucky students whose parents are connected, and will have the privilege of getting up close and personal with tickets and balls. Tina Munoz-Pandya, whose mother works for the Obama administration, not only has tickets to the event but will be attending the Latino and women's Inaugural ball.

Though not all students may have tickets, many have high hopes for the Inauguration. Student Colin Ward is intent on actually seeing President-elect Barak Obama with his own eyes. "Even if it's only for three seconds as he walks by," Ward feels seeing Obama is akin to seeing history being made. "I mean, that's history right there."

Ward's sentiment is echoed throughout the hallways at Blair, where most students will be witnessing the historic Inauguration in some form, even if it is just from their couches.
So the day off will not be wasted, as Blair students live up to their Patriotic standard, and use their day off not to study for their upcoming exams, but to take part in their countries history.