History of Field Day

Field Day has always been the most important tradition at ThunderRidge High School. Every year, students and teachers alike get together to celebrate this day. It all started with Jim Wallendorf, the first principal who brought this tradition from a school in Michigan. To this day, Field Day is still a prominent tradition at ThunderRidge and it will continue to be for years to come.  

“I remember him showing the first staff of TRHS a TV news feature about his former high school going through Field Day,” said Wilbur Sameshima, a teacher who was there the first Field Day remarks. “Our jaws just dropped. It was incredible, but also scary. We tried it and it was great and still is.” 

From that first day, everyone fell in love with Field Day and decided to make it an annual tradition. The events from the very first one are still a big part of today’s. These include, but are not limited to, song, cheer, and tug-a-war, though others have evolved into bigger and better events. New ones are always being added, with the most recent one being spikeball. The very heart of Field Day revolves around unity that is achieved on that day. 

“It is a day to celebrate through friendly competition all the unique parts of our Grizzly community.  There's something for everyone - artistic and linguistic creativity, dance, athletics, design, video-gaming, charity. It just doesn't get any better than watching students celebrate one another,” said TR Principal Nikki Ballow. 

Everyone agrees that this unity is special to ThunderRidge.

“There is nothing like Field Day at ThunderRidge,” Ballow said. “There are many schools that try to replicate what we are doing, because it is just so great!” We all take pride in that! It is amazing to be apart of such an amazing thing and the future of this incredible day is bright.