The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity prayed and got focused one last time. Their months of effort preparing for the Homecoming step show was nearing its end.
All that was left to do was perform.
The step show took place at 8 p.m. Saturday at Diddle Arena.
Iota Phi Theta, Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi and Phi Beta Sigma fraternities also performed, as well as Sigma Gamma Rho and Delta Sigma Theta sororities.
KA Psi members donned khaki pants, white shirts, ties and red sweaters, and Paducah senior Anthony Benberry got in some last-minute grooming.
“I feel good. I feel confident. We’ve got a great show,” he said. “Feel a little nervous, not nervous to think you might lose, just nervous that you have a great show. You just have to do it right.”
KA Psi was the defending step show champion.
Meanwhile, the AKAs had transformed the softball locker room into a dressing room, with women finishing up hair and makeup and laughing with their sorority sisters.
Bowling Green senior Lindsey Ardrey said she was excited.
“We’ve been practicing since the second week of school, so we’re pretty ready to show everybody what we’ve been working on,” she said.
Franklin senior Leah Smith called to her sorority sisters as she left to take her seat for the show.
“Work it out, and do your best. And once you finish, you can pass out,” she said.
The AKAs were the third group to perform. They were led in chains to folding chairs on stage, where other performers stepped in a mock interrogation.
Throughout the show, scores of “skee-wees” erupted from the crowd, as current and former AKAs squealed their sorority call in support of their sisters.
The KA Psi members followed the AKAs. They brought rapper R-Prophet of Nappy Roots on stage with them. R-Prophet performed the single “Run Tell the DJ” from his album “The Voice.”
The crowd screamed and cheered to the tricks KA Psi members performed with their traditional candy-striped canes.
The night ended with the Omegas’ four-man step team marching to the stage in military fatigues.
Host Spike Davis of Louisville came to the stage to announce the winners.
“First place for sororities,” he said but was cut off by a lone “skee-wee” from the crowd.
Without missing a beat, Davis finished, saying, “Yes, ma’am, you’re right, Alpha Kappa Alpha.”
Bowling Green senior Sylena Fishback enjoyed the victory.
“The taste of victory is like no other,” she said.
Davis then announced the winner for the fraternities – the Omegas had broken KA Psi’s two-year streak.
Redemption was the first thing on Omega member Montaze Trumbo’s mind.
“We felt we should have won it last year,” said Trumbo, a Louisville senior. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Reach Greg Capillo at news@wkuherald.com.
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