School was back to normal this week after Greeley West celebrated its two biggest football games of the year: West-Central and Homecoming.

Each year, West has a spirit week and assembly leading up to both, but this year they were back to back. Which event is bigger for the school? We set out to find out what the students thought. 

The seniors at West have seen both of these traditions for four years in a row now, all loving the excitement West-Central brings. Senior thespian Cailtin Luther said, “I think that West-Central week is more important, as it brings everyone together against beating our rivals. More people have school spirit during the week and at the game, and the tickets for the football game are less expensive than the HOCO tickets which makes it more accessible to bring us all together.”

Since the football team is directly related to both events, their perspective was important t oget as well.  Sophomore wide reciever Julian Villanueva said, “From an athlete’s perspective, West-Central week is more important. Of course, we have the football game and the dance for homecoming, but that just doesn’t seem like an experience everyone will hold on to.”

Villanueva said the larger, more engaged crowd is a big reason that the inner-city rivalry is more important. “West-Central Week is something everyone looks forward to, between the big rivalry, huge crowds, and excitement during the game. There’s nothing that can compare to the cross-town rival game and it never leaves anyone’s memory,” Villanueva said.

Junior Daymeon Harris said that the atmosphere gives the West-Central game the edge. “West-Central is much bigger because the atmosphere is happier and more energetic.  We constantly play Central so it’s more of a tradition whereas when we have the Homecoming game, it’s against a different team every year,” Harris said.