How did a simple polka start as a time-honored tradition at an Algoma basketball game?
Algoma Band Director Jennifer Massey says the tradition dates back to when she was a student at UW-Milwaukee when she was in the school's pep band. "Between the years of 2001-2003 the Panthers were dominant in the Horizon League,' Massey said. "At the end of each game our Chancellor would request that the band play the Beer Barrel Polka (her favorite song) as a 5th quarter.” she said on where she got the idea.
When she was hired at Algoma in 2004, she decided to bring the tradition with her, but move it to halftime instead of playing it after the game. "If our team was winning at half-time, I would call out, #22 - The Beer Barrel Polka!”
It became a staple after two years of hearing it at half-time, Fran Bero came up to Massey in the middle of the song and pulled her on the court to polka.
"It was hard-hitting news at the time as it made the front page of the Kewaunee County Star!," joked Massey. "After the embarrassment of being pulled out on the court, I started asking the student section to join me. As the years have passed, more and more students have joined the fun at half-time.”
The Algoma Pep Band is set to play during the next Algoma girls' basketball home game on January 15th against Gibraltar, which is a make-up from Tuesday's snow storm.
