Calling for IHS Blue-Out Fridays

Blue and Gold  are the standards for Iola High School. Actually for all USD 257 schools.
So game days and nights should be Blue or Gold Days.
Iola High is entering its final season of Southeast Kansas League competition. During the fall, Mustang and Fillies fans have a limited number of opportunities to cheer on the home team.
So why not make the most of those nights. Don’t call for Black-Out where students and others wear black T-shirts or sweatshirts.
WEAR BLUE AND GOLD. Make opposing teams see BLUE in the bleachers.
A few years ago the IHS Stang Stampede and Student Council put a challenge out there to “Paint the Town Blue.” What an excellent idea for Iola fans.
The Fillies’ tennis team has one home meet, which is next Thursday. Action starts at 3 p.m. on the district tennis courts northeast of the high school. Perennial SEK tennis powerhouses Parsons and Independence will be here along with Columbus. Match play stretches throughout the late afternoon and early evening.
The Mustangs have four home varsity football games this season. They kick off the 2011 action at home next Friday against Independence.
Coffeyville comes to town Sept. 16 then the IHS fall homecoming game is Oct. 7 against Labette County. Anderson County is here Oct. 21 in Class 4A district play.
There are four junior varsity football games at home.
Iola’s freshman volleyball team will play at home more times than the Fillies’ varsity this season. It’s just how the schedule falls.
The Fillies’ varsity has three  home dates — all in September. They host Louisburg on Sept. 8 then it’s the annual IHS Invitational on Sept. 10.
Iola’s lone home Southeast Kansas League matches are Sept. 22. Independence and Pittsburg come to the Fillies’ court.
The volleyball team has a home  junior varsity tournament this Saturday starting at 8:30 a.m. Iola’s freshmen have six home dates including a tournament on Sept. 17.
Iola High’s institution — known as Marvin Smith — will retire from coaching cross country and track plus teaching after this year. Smith leads the IHS cross country athletes through their final season in the SEK.
The Mustang and Fillies run at home once in the annual IHS Doc Stiles Invitational cross country meet on Sept. 20. The event starts at 4 p.m. in Riverside Park.
There you have it fans.
So let’s paint the town blue at every home event. You’ll know when IHS is playing a home event when you drive downtown.
The IHS Booster Club, with the help of Smith and his athletes, put up the blue and gold flags around the square. The booster club purchased the flags a few years ago.
Here’s another idea. Join the IHS Booster Club. A one-year membership is $30, which comes with a booster club yard sign and name recognition. Contact club president Larry Toney, vice president Sharla Miller, treasurer Jan Sigg or secretary Marla Wilson.
The booster club will be set up at tonight’s football scrimmage, which begins at 7.
ON TUESDAY, the annual Iola Register Fall Sports Preview section comes out. There are stories on all the IHS teams plus football, volleyball, cross country and girls’ golf teams from Humboldt, Marmaton Valley, Crest, Yates Center, Uniontown and Southern Coffey County high schools.