Lower Merion High School recently hosted Maroon Madness - the Aces' annual community pep rally for winter athletics and activities - as students, family, friends and community members packed Bryant Gymnasium to enjoy a fun-filled evening of hoops, live entertainment, raffles and more! Through this year's event, the Aces ultimately raised more than $7,000, which is earmarked for the Sean A. Hughes Children's Trust.

Boys' basketball assistant coach Kevin Grugan opened the evening welcoming all those in attendance before sharing a few words about the support and influence of the late, great Lower Merion principal, Mr. Sean Hughes, not only on the basketball program, but on the school-community as a whole. Coach Grugan echoed a pair of Principal Hughes' popular precepts reminding students of the importance of showing gratitude as well as the fact that "character counts."

At the beginning of every basketball season, Principal Hughes would order a Dawg Pound t-shirt with the number on the back corresponding to the graduation year of the senior class. After years of serving as the heartbeat of Aces Nation and the Dawg Pound's biggest supporter, the school-community wanted to ensure that Principal Hughes' leadership and spirit would never be forgotten. In a touching tribute, Principal Hughes' last Dawg Pound shirt was framed and hung above the Dawg Pound's section of bleachers where it will forever grace the walls of Bryant Gymnasium.

Other program highlights from this year's event included the introduction of the boys' and girls' basketball teams, an intra-squad scrimmage, student dances, live performances by the cheerleaders and dance team, on-court games and raffles, which included awesome prizes like a football autographed by the star quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jalen Hurts!

The event was organized by Student Council members Eli Gordon, Cam Gordon, Mia Hail, Cyrus Bernstein, Hutton Smith, Michelle Kelly, Natalie Hillis and Keira Edge, under the direction and leadership of club sponsor and Spanish teacher, Mr. Sean Capkin. Special thanks to this year's event sponsors Kelly's Tap Room, Primos Hoagies (Ardmore), Marathon Trading and BMW of the Main Line. To view a slideshow of images from this year's event, click play below!