Feet danced, hands clapped and Raiders cheered inside a tropically transformed Heiges Field House on the eve of the homecoming football game.

The spirit rally reflected this year’s homecoming theme, Ship Getaway. Walking into Heiges, students had the choice of grabbing some free swag like Hawaiian leis, pink pineapple T-shirts or sunglasses.

Palm trees and beach balls decorated the interior. Homecoming court members relaxed on the basketball court in red and blue lawn chairs.

The Shippensburg University marching band and cheerleaders pumped up the crowd before the kickoff at 8 p.m. Homecoming Committee President James Sheard and campus involvement chairperson Zhane’ McMillion served as emcees for the evening.

This year, the homecoming committee selected the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter, of Chambersburg, as the recipient of the homecoming court’s fundraising.

Jennifer Vanderau, director of communications for the animal shelter, thanked SU for its donations.

Sheard and McMillion announced a dance off for the first six people to make their way down to the basketball court. Students leapt from the stands for the chance to compete and win prizes. The crowd chose three winners based on their moves to “Juju On That Beat.”

SU President George “Jody” Harpster led everyone in a few cheers, pumping them up for the next day’s football game against Kutztown University.

“S-H-I-P. What’s that spell? Ship!” Harpster yelled.

Harpster wished students a happy homecoming, but urged them to be safe and look out for their friends while celebrating.

Bringing the attention back to Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter, Sheard and McMillion offered prizes to the first eight people to make it to the court with $1 for the shelter.

Next, the homecoming committee announced a limbo competition. Six people bent their way under the limbo stick to the tune of tropical music.

In-Motion Dance Troupe stepped out in burgundy pants and cropped black hoodies.

Dancers shook, shimmied and body rolled to a blend of music while lights flashed and mist crept onto the court.

Students got a glimpse of the previous night’s lip sync competition when the homecoming committee brought out two winning groups from Thursday. Heritage Dance Company, sporting red tank tops and denim shorts, performed its winning routine for the large group competition.

The crowd went wild, cheering for their friends and taking photos and video with their cell phones.

Second-place small group winners Grant Henry, of homecoming court, and Jake Murray performed “Start of Something New” from “High School Musical.”

Cell phone lights lit up the room as Henry and Murray sang to one another, just like Troy and Gabriella did in the 2006 film. Henry, dressed as Gabriella, wore makeup and a wig for the occasion.

Heritage Dance Company returned to the court, stepping out in red, green, black and yellow frayed tops.

One dancer started the routine by stepping out in a feathered outfit, flanked by two dancers in gold. Once again, the crowd went nuts as the women performed their art.

As the event came to a close and the crowd thinned out, Sheard and McMillion reminded students of upcoming homecoming events.

Spectators left the tropical scene in Heiges, but the homecoming committee stayed to clean up. Senior Kayle Claycomb served as spirit rally coordinator for the event.“I couldn’t be happier,” Claycomb said of the event she had been planning for months.

“Everyone just did an awesome job,” she said.

Claycomb said homecoming committee starts preparing for the next year’s homecoming almost immediately after the current year’s festivities end.

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