By Angelina Burkholder | Echo
The speaker prays, the band sings a song or two and waves goodbye. You bend to grab your backpack and the familiar yell echoes throughout the chapel. You breathe a sigh of relief. It just doesn't feel like Friday until Jeff Yoder wears the shirt and yells the mantra.
Since 2001, the "Friday guy" has ushered in the weekend, a tradition that began with a simple Salvation Army purchase and a sibling crime.In the late 1990s, J.R. Briggs ('01) unknowingly bought the shirt that would soon become the hallmark of Friday chapels. Before the orange and purple striped shirt even had time to settle into its new Wengatz home, it was uprooted. Alan Briggs stole his brother's secondhand goodie and graffitied it with a smiley face and the famous "It's Friday" line. With just a few simple swipes of a Sharpie, a legend was born.
After Alan Briggs' first chapel yell announcing the weekend's arrival, the tradition took off and Third West Wengatz (WWIII) never looked back. Now, four hand-offs later, senior Jeff Yoder's journey with the revered shirt is drawing to an end. In less than a week, he will hand down the relic and pride to a lucky Third West Wengatz freshman.This year, WWIII has nine freshmen vying for the title of Friday guy. Over the course of the school year, Yoder has watched each one carefully. Tradition demands that each holder choose from a pool of freshmen, assessing them on their personality, reputation and dedication to the wing.
Wingmates speculate that Yoder has already chosen the next recipient, but it's still anybody's game. Take a look at the candidates and judge for yourself. Only one will receive the legendary title.[wzslider height="800" info="true"]
(Photographs by Mel Kerigan & Kari Travis; thumbnail photograph courtesy of Show Me Grant County)
