Winter Storm Fern wasn’t the only ice event for Polk County last weekend. Elementary school students also took to the ice at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, performing during a professional hockey game just ahead of the winter storm’s arrival.
Choruses from Polk Central and Sunny View elementary schools combined to sing “God Bless America” during first intermission of the Friday, Jan. 23, East Coast Hockey League match between the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Florida Everblades. This marks the third consecutive year the choruses have performed during a Swamp Rabbits game.
The performance came together despite significant uncertainty about whether travel would be safe or if the game would even take place as Winter Storm Fern approached the region.
“Early in the week, some forecasts showed the storm moving in on Friday night,” said Lacey Cochran, music teacher for both schools. “It’s a long trip down to Greenville, and there were a lot of concerns regarding safety, particularly if the weather were to start moving through before everyone was able to make it back up to Polk County.”
Throughout the week, school and district officials monitored forecasts and maintained constant communication with Swamp Rabbits officials so decisions could be made in the best interest of everyone involved. The Swamp Rabbits also monitored conditions as they considered schedule changes. Ultimately, conditions were deemed safe for the game and student travel to proceed. However, ahead of Friday’s game, Swamp Rabbits officials announced the remaining two games of the three-game home stand were cancelled and rescheduled for later in the spring.
Students expressed enthusiasm about performing on the arena’s ice surface. Polk Central third-grader Scarlett Culbreth, a chorus newcomer, said it was fun to sing on the ice. Her sister, Teagan Culbreth, a three-year chorus veteran, called the opportunity her favorite trip every year.
“Singing on the ice was so fun, but I also really liked when they put us on the Megatron and let us yell ‘Let’s go Rabbits,'” Teagan said.
Polk Central’s Serenity Lindsey considered it one of the best nights of her life and spent the entire ride home reliving the experience with her cousin, Briley McDowell of Sunny View’s chorus. Charlie Smith, a three-year Sunny View chorus veteran, expressed hope that opportunities like this would inspire students to take part in chorus.
The Swamp Rabbits ended the night with an exciting 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the top-ranked Everblades. The Swamp Rabbits are an affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, while the Everblades are affiliated with the St. Louis Blues NHL teams.
Sunny View fifth-grader Alyssa McGuinn, a newcomer chorus member, captured the excitement of the experience.
“Thank you so much for having us! We had so much fun! I didn’t know hockey was so much fun! I have to take my family to see it,” McGuinn said.
