The annual homecoming tradition, Yell Like Hell, came back to central campus this week. Eager first-year students, many involved in Greek life, experienced Iowa State homecoming for the first time through choreographed routines Monday and Wednesday.
To prepare, participants have gathered on Jack Trice property every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8 to 10 p.m. for intensive rehearsal sessions no more and no less than two hours in length, to rehearse their five and a half minute routines.
Teams typically include a pairing or grouping of sorority and fraternity houses. Routines consist of skits, chants, stunts, stomps and the Cyclone Fight Song. When teams make it past the first cuts in competition, they go on to be painted red and gold head to toe for rounds two and three.
After the first cuts on Monday, eight teams progressed to run their routines again, this time going all-out in paint and spirit. The final eight included: The Cy King, 00-Cy, How the Grinch Stole Homecoming, Cyvengers, CYcademy Awards, Cy Wars: The Clone Wars, Cy’s Day Off and Cybusters.
These eight teams competed from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday on central campus in front of the judge panel for the final three spots, which will progress to final cuts and compete in a final round Friday during the Iowa State homecoming pep rally.
Participant Evan Kohlsdorf, a sophomore in marketing, performed on the team The Cy King, and gave his thoughts after the second cuts Wednesday.
“I think we were probably a little bit louder than we have been before,” Kohlsdorf said. “I think people were definitely dialed in, and were definitely ready to perform.”
Kohlsdorf explained that sitting in his chapter house, painted head to toe for four hours, got the team eager to compete. For rounds two and three, paint must cover the whole outfit, hands, feet, hair and face, with several touch-ups before hitting the stage.
Kohlsdorf said his team’s progression to second cuts was due to being one of the bigger house trios in the running, as well as the projection and clarity of their voices. Kohlsdorf explained the duality of excitement and hard work.
“It’s one of the more fun things that I’ve done that I’m never going to want to do again,” Kohlsdorf said.
Competing for team The Cy King, Steven Wilhelm, a freshman in finance, said the collaborative efforts of the team progressed greatly throughout the rehearsal process.
“In the beginning, we were all uncoordinated, and the lines weren’t good,” Wilhelm said.
However, the team grew in skill and enthusiasm by homecoming week. Wilhelm believes their routine went well in front of the judges and audience Wednesday night.
Mallory Heaser, a sophomore in mechanical engineering and participant in Yell like Hell, said there is honor that comes with moving on to the painted stage.
“If you make it past the first round, you can get painted and go all out,” Heaser said. Prior to Monday’s cuts, she said, “I hope we get painted.”
Strict criteria is expected to be followed by each team’s routine for the event, such as the inclusion of certain key words in their chants and a unique set of dance moves in each chant and stomp.
“I was surprised by how many rules there were,” Zoey Zuck, a freshman in public relations, said.
Zuck performed with Abigail Harken, a freshman in criminal justice, in the routine Cyclone Night Live in the first cuts Monday. Harken described the training process as intense, but reflected on how it builds community within Greek life.
“It’s a great way to get involved with homecoming and meet new people,” Harken said.
