1994 PCHS

 

Bean Spitting, 1000-Point Scorers, and the 'Ice Age' of 1994: A Deep Dive into Rural High School Life

The Hook: A Portal to the Pre-Digital Era

The 1993-94 school year at Pocahontas County High School (P.C.H.S.) stands as a frozen snapshot of a world on the brink of change. Inside the classroom, freshmen like Donald Seabolt and Chris Antonis were just beginning to decode the logic of breadboards in electronics lab. Yet, outside those walls, life was still governed by the raw rhythm of the seasons and the physical pulse of the community. It was a year defined by its tactile reality—a place where resilience was forged in unheated gyms and friendships were solidified in the snow.

The Year the Snow Stood Still

In January 1994, the county was swallowed by a landscape of white silence. Massive snow and ice storms paralyzed the region, shuttering school doors for nearly the entire month and forcing a chaotic schedule of delays through March. This "Ice Age" turned the academic calendar into a series of starts and stops that tested the graduating class's grit.

"we had a lot of time off due to the weather."

For the seniors, the weather was both a thief of time and a legendary memory-maker. These long stretches of isolation only deepened the hunger for connection when the buses finally rolled again. The year became a masterclass in adaptability, proving that the Pocahontas community could weather any freeze.

Sadie Hawkins: When "Hillbillies" and Bean Spitting Defined School Spirit

At P.C.H.S., community wasn’t built through screens, but through the messy, physical rituals of rural life. Sadie Hawkins Day saw students and faculty shed their daily personas to dress as "hillbillies," engaging in the visceral fun of bean spitting and piggyback races. Even the faculty joined the fray; Coach Shank was spotted on the gym floor as a judge, clearly having a good time amidst the chaos.

The physicality of these traditions bridged the gap between student and teacher in a way no lecture ever could. During the GAA fundraiser, hierarchy vanished as senior Chad Peck smeared a pie into Mrs. McGee’s face, followed by junior Chris Taylor doing the same to Mr. Wade. This raw, tactile energy defined the school’s "coming together as one," where even the freshmen proved their mettle.

"The freshmen showed a lot of enthusiasm in the Powderpuff football game, winning first place."

The 1000-Point Barrier and the "Best Ever" Lady Warriors

The sports season of '94 was nothing short of historic, marked by a standard of excellence that Coach Sheets claimed made the whole county proud. The Lady Warriors basketball team tore through the schedule with a record-breaking 13-game winning streak, finishing 19-3. This was an era where women's sports at P.C.H.S. didn't just compete—they dominated the regional conversation.

The legendary Jennifer Young shattered records as the first Lady Warrior to score 1000 career points, a milestone that remains a local benchmark. Alongside her, all-tournament players like Jennifer Moore and Katy Gay ensured the team’s legacy was written in gold. Their success was a testament to the grit required to win in a year where practices were constantly disrupted by ice and snow.

"It was a great honor to be the first Lady Warrior to score 1000 points." — Jennifer Young

Building the Future: From Carpentry to Electronics

The vocational wing served as the school's engine room, where the focus remained squarely on readying students for the workforce. In the woodshop and electronics labs, the mentorship was personal and the projects were tangible. This atmosphere of craftsmanship was personified by instructors like Mr. Ziegler, who famously boasted the "best mustache" at P.C.H.S. while guiding students through the complexities of residential wiring.

• Carpentry students under Mr. Taylor practiced their trade by building dog boxes and a new playground for Hillsboro Elementary.
• Electronics and Electricity classes wired the school greenhouse and repaired the gym’s sound system.
• The VICA club achieved top honors at Cedar Lakes, with Chris Stelle and Ashley Jolly placing first in parliamentary procedures.
• Vo-Ag students funded their national travels by selling beef jerky, peanuts, and fruit, eventually heading to Kansas City.

Assemblies: "God's Gift to Students"

Assemblies in 1994 were a vital communal ritual, providing a necessary escape from the "heavy desire to be out of class." Over 400 students would pack the bleachers, enduring the stifling heat and the "agony" of the crowd for a chance to witness the school’s cultural heart. It was a sensory overload of gossip, sweat, and the occasional performance of plays like "Cerano De Bergerac."

"Assemblies are God's gift to students." — Kim Farmer

The soundtrack of the year was provided by the Pride of Pocahontas, the Warrior Marching Band, which earned its first "superior" rating in many years. They moved beyond stuffy classics to play the hits of the era, including Eric Clapton’s "Tears in Heaven" and "Sunshine of Your Life." These gatherings were the glue of the student body, offering a shared rhythm in a year of unpredictable weather.

Career Day: Shaping 45 Different Futures

On April 27, 1994, the school cafeteria became a marketplace of ambition during Career Day. The event featured 45 different stations, offering a window into futures ranging from Banking to X-ray Technology. It wasn't just local business owners like Roger Trusler in attendance; representatives came from surrounding communities and further away to invest in the P.C.H.S. students.

This regional support underscored the community's commitment to its youth during a time of transition. For seniors like Mel Anderson and Katy Gay, these one-on-one conversations were the final guideposts before graduation. It was a day for making "important decisions" about life beyond the mountains of Pocahontas County.

Conclusion: The Final Bell

As the final bell of 1994 rang, it marked the end of a year defined by extremes—the "Ice Age" outside and the heat of a crowded gym. The transition was embodied by figures like Prom King Dustin Wilfong, who helped lead the senior class into a world where they would finally be "out making decisions." They left behind a school that had been hardened by winter but softened by the laughter of a pie-eating contest.

How do the memories of 1994—a year of broken records, "Tears in Heaven," and the shared silence of a snow day—still influence the Pocahontas County community today? One thing is certain: the resilience forged in that frozen year remains a permanent part of the Warrior spirit. High school may be a fleeting experience, but the bonds made in the ice of '94 were built to last.