For over a decade, Song Battle has been the highlight of the Cardinal Gibbons homecoming pep rally. 

For the last two years, the 2026 class has taken home the win. 

As their last year competing, will they achieve that 3-peat that they so desire, or will the teachers take back the win?

Senior Leila Crisano has led the grade’s song battle routines for the past few years.

In her third year of preparation, the stakes have never been higher.

“I just feel like the pressure has been on,” said Crisano. “The teachers feel the need to go above and beyond to beat us and it’s a lot after winning for two years.”

The intense pressure continues to rise due to everyone’s schedules not aligning for rehearsals, or people just not showing up. Crisano noted that it has always been a struggle getting people to join, and this year recruitment is needed more than ever.

This year’s competition is only against teachers after the other three classes dropped due to a poor turnout in volunteers and fear of the upperclassmen winning, the battle of seniors and teachers has only intensified.

Mrs. Burns, a teacher who has been involved since Song Battle started over a decade ago, noted how teachers joining in this Gibbons tradition started when flash mobs were the rage. The teachers decided to dress up in student uniforms and stormed the gym causing students to fill with joy and laughter.

Ever since, they have been a part of the battle creating their own performances led by the dance teachers.

Burns’ said her reason behind participating all these years is, “It’s all about making you guys smile.”

The stakes are high. Will the senior class win for the third year in a row, or will the teachers take back the victory they had years ago?