ABOVE: Robotics mentor Sam Viesselman operate informs spectators and students about Robotics at Fairmont High School’s annual Activities Fair on Wednesday evening. At robotics, students will be able to work as a team to operate the machine (as seen) to complete a certain task.

FAIRMONT — High school students and their families had an opportunity to get an exclusive look at the sports and other extracurriculars that Fairmont High School (FHS) has to offer with the Activities Fair and Fall Pep Fest that took place on Wednesday in the ‘Horseshoe’ entrance at FHS.

Mat Mahoney–Activities Director, coach and Physical Education teacher–has served Fairmont Area Schools in his roles for more than 10 years. Mahoney was elated to have this event to tease the sports that will be representing Fairmont High during the fall season.

“It’s a good way to kick off the school year,” Mahoney said.

At the event, tables were lined up with a diverse amount of demonstrations from each sports team (teams in uniform, volleyball players serving, soccer players passing the ball), as well as team captains and coaches standing by tables to offer information to families and recruit potential teammates. Porkchop on a stick was available as well as water bottles from Culligan Water. Following the fair, student athletes and attendants gathered closer to the horseshoe as the individual teams and clubs introduced themselves and the benefits of joining them.

After opening with the Fairmont Fight Song (played by a few members of the marching band) and a cheerleading performance, Sara Gudahl announced that for the fall production, the school will be performing 1978 “Grease,” a wholesome and romantic-comedy musical about groups of teenagers navigating in 1950s high school. Gudahl noted that while the musical falls under the same schedule, she urges athletes in fall season sports to audition for a role. The student body received this news well and with excitement.

Matt Nielsen introduced the large group of girls in soccer. Nielsen noted the tenacity of the student athletes and the captains described more exciting attributes of being on the team. Nielsen concluded with an announcement that he would cover ticket costs for their upcoming game.

Following non-academic clubs (including Debate, FFA and Robotics), Mahoney made way for his massive team of football players, recognizing team players from seventh grade to seniors. With the upcoming brawl against Tri-City United, Mahoney and Cardinal Football are fierce this season and plan to give it their all.

The Pep Fest closed with a final Fairmont Fight Song rendition by the band and a cheerleading routine.

Last year, the Activities Fair was hosted in the main gymnasium in Fairmont High School. In other previous years, the fairs have been held in the school’s commons room and on Downtown Plaza. Given the nice weather and spacious setting of the horseshoe, the location was received well by student athletes, their coaches and other families and spectators in attendance.

The event is also acknowledged to bring in and catch the interest of incoming seventh graders, as Fairmont High School offers a broader range of activities compared to Fairmont Elementary School.

Planning the event is fairly simple, according to Mahoney. The event solely focuses on the alignment of team schedules and coordinating everything with each group to bring a fun and educational experience to those interested in selecting an extracurricular club while studying at the high school.

“It’s a good way for students to explore each other,” he described while spectating the turn-out of the event, which saw more than 200 students. “There’s so many activities.”

Mahoney believes that there is an extracurricular activity for every student. He urges said students to pursue an extracurricular activity so they don’t regret not taking the opportunity, as he described at the Pep Fest following the Activities Fair.

Activity registration is online only and requires sports physicals that must be updated every four years by a doctor. For families without access to the online form, inside the Fairmont High School office is a computer where a student or guardian may complete a registration form for the desired activity.