GreatNews.Life Student Voices: The school year starts late and the No. 5 ranked football team highlights the new year for Griffith High School

What’s recently happened?

With a strong start to the 2026 season, the Griffith Panthers football team is 3-0 to kick off the year. They came off a 36-28 victory against the Lowell Red Devils, marking the first win for Griffith against the Red Devils since 2016.

“I knew we were going to come back and win,” said senior running back Desmond Neylon. “We talked about it, then came together as a team like we always do.”

If there is one take away for the team so far this season, it would be how much of a family they are. The Panthers come together when they need it most, and the team wouldn’t be the same without that factor.

“Our group is a family,” said junior linebacker Logan Andree. “We all grew up together, we’ve all been under the same coaching staff and development, and we’ve learned to play for each other.”

The Panthers hope to keep the family together for the rest of the season and win conference for the second year in a row.

What’s coming up?

Next weekend, Griffith will tell the tales of the elements with the 2026-2027 homecoming festivities. The pep-rally, parade, football game and school dance are all significant events for Griffith during this homecoming.

“I’m very excited about being a member of the homecoming court,” said senior Kenlei Glotzbach. “I think it will be a great opportunity for me, and it will also boost my confidence.”

Homecoming is always a big time of the year for Griffith, but with this year’s storms, there has not been much time to prepare.

“I don’t know if I have time to get a dress,” said junior Gracey Wilson. “Time is getting cut really short, and everything is really chaotic with it being so close to the start of the year.”

Everyone in the school is working hard to see it through, with the class councils rushing to get spirit days approved, students buying tickets, and administration preparing the school for everything that will happen over the next week.

Overall, Griffith High School doesn’t know what to expect for homecoming week, but all are looking forward to seeing what will happen.

Staff Spotlight:

One of the high school’s Student Resource Officers (SRO) at Griffith is Officer Pete Ghrist.

Ghrist has been at Griffith for about 17 years, serving both the town and school, and he has loved every aspect of his time as an officer.

“I love this place,” said Ghrist. “The students, staff, everyone. It’s like a family, and it always will be.”

Next month, Ghrist will be leaving Griffith High School to further his career, as he is receiving a promotion to sergeant.

“I feel honored and proud,” said Ghrist. “I’m also sad to leave here. I’m still going to be here, just not as often, but the memories are still here, and I still have to say goodbye.”

Even though Ghrist is leaving the school right now, he will still be running the Griffith Paranormal Society. The Paranormal Society is a club where students can join to go on trips to allegedly  haunted places, where they can learn about the history while also maybe catching evidence of a ghost or two.

“I’ll be around enough to where I can still run it. It wouldn’t be a thing if I weren’t here to run it,” Ghrist said.

Ghrist has spent much of his time supporting the school, and much of the student and staff population will miss him, but they will also be rooting for him to be a sergeant in Griffith.

Student Spotlight:

One of the new co-presidents for the Best Buddies program is senior Allison Patterson, who took over Best Buddies this year alongside co-president Alyssa Varichak.

“I never thought that I would get to this point to where I’m helping run the whole thing,” said Patterson. “I feel honored, but also very nervous and excited.”

Patterson originally joined Best Buddies her sophomore year after her best friend, Natalie Wadkins, encouraged and recruited her into becoming a part of the program.

“I went to one meeting and I fell in love with all of it,” said Patterson. “I wanted to know what it was about, what it was like. Then I decided that these were my people and this was my crowd.”

Patterson knew that she had found her passion. Between Best Buddies and her involvement in the Griffith Theatre Company, she finally knew who she belonged with.

“I make new friends, make new relationships and connections, and just overall have a lot of fun,” said Patterson.

Patterson hopes that she can continue to make new connections not just with herself, but with buddies all around and have them feel more included.

“I want to create a space where everyone can feel included, everyone is comfortable,” said Patterson. “I want everyone to know that they won’t feel judged, or anything negative like that, I want them to feel like they belong.”