![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
The roaring crowd jumps off their seats. The stadium lights beam in the sky. With all the chaos of a Friday night football game, who actually sees where the ball lands? The chain gang does.
During games, the chain gang stands at the sidelines, helping the referee to determine the exact location of the ball and the distance a team needs to get a first down.
Deanna Bower, a retired physical education teacher and an all-time football lover, was one of two women leading the chain gang at the football game against Santa Clara on Friday, October 7.
“[The chain gang] immensely helps the officials,” she said. “To have a running chain that knows what they’re doing [makes it easier for them to do their job].”
Fourteen years ago, Bower established the “chain chicks,” a group of women initially comprised of thirteen football moms who wanted to stay close to the sport after their sons graduated from high school. Now, excluding Bower, only one of the original thirteen moms is still an active participant in the group, but many interested mothers and friends have joined since then.
At Bower’s side on Friday’s game was Cindy Bloch, mother of junior varsity player Matthew Bloch (9). As a prospective “chain chick,” Bloch loved “running the chain” on the sideline for the first time and sees the benefits of doing so.
“[The sideline] is a great place to watch the game [since] you see everything that’s going on, and you really pay attention because you have to be ready to move the chain,” Bloch said. “ And [running the chain] really keeps your mind right on the game.”
Named after football’s chain gang, the chain chicks volunteer their Friday nights and Saturday afternoons to “run the chain” for junior varsity, varsity, and Junior College games.
The “chain chicks” have grown tremendously in the past decade. Besides “running chain” for regular season games, they also do so at playoff games, like CCS. Additionally, they have extended their involvement to junior college football games, including those of Foothill and College of San Mateo.
“[The chain chicks] will go forever. I don’t see ever an end to it. I love going to other schools and getting them started off,” Bower said.
Bower’s passion for the sport developed at a very young age. She always attended games with her family throughout her childhood, so when she entered high school, she was already familiar with the numerous rules of the game. She, therefore, became an active member of the chain gang for the first three years, finishing her high school career as a member of the cheerleading squad.
“[Then,] I went onto college to be pom-pom girl and got myself as close as possible to football,” she said. “I’ll always enjoy the game.”
Bower hopes to recruit interested women, men, or high school girls to become a part of the chain gang for the school. She’s open to teaching those who are new to the sport the “science of the game” so that next year, the school can have its very own group. Bower will return to “run the chain” in the game against Fremont High School on October 21, aiming to teach new members how to successfully perform the job of the chain gang.
