High school sports traditions: They are not just about scoring touchdowns, hitting home runs or nailing the game-winning buzzer-beater. They are about something deeper, something that brings communities together and creates beautiful memories that are impossible to forget.
In a world where the latest TikTok trend or video game often steals the spotlight, it is easy to wonder if sports traditions have lost their touch. Nevertheless, Westfield has proven time and time again that these traditions must be maintained and expanded.
In general, attendance at Westfield sporting events has been embarrassingly low. Football seems to be the most popular among the students, and still, the student section is lacking. The same can be said for important soccer or volleyball games; there just are not a lot of students in the stands.
However, traditions, new and old, have inspired the student body to buy tickets and fill up the stands. In late September, the football team took on Scotch Plains-Fanwood for the second year in a row. For the entire week leading up to the game, students filled the hallways with chatter regarding the upcoming game, asking their friends if they would be in attendance. When the day finally arrived, the bleachers at SPF were packed tighter than ever before. Rivalry games like this bring students together, and they create an unforgettable atmosphere that is impossible to replicate. They are a necessity in order to build strong school spirit, and they give students the opportunity to engage with their peers outside of the classroom.
Student-athletes also benefit from exciting environments. As they watch hundreds of peers chant their names and scream in support of their team, the energy of the student section helps to create amazing memories that will last a lifetime for the athletes and fans. When reminiscing over high school experiences, memories like these ones will immediately come to mind.
Additionally, there is nostalgia associated with these traditions. Westfield is lucky. They have one of the longest traditions in all of high school sports: The annual Westfield vs. Plainfield Thanksgiving football game. Dating back to 1899, the Blue Devils and the Cardinals have battled for over 100 years on our nation’s day of thanks. Being such an old tradition, students can imagine what it was like for their parents and grandparents to take the field in this same game years before. This tradition is a slice of Westfield’s history, a connection to its past, and an acknowledgement of the generations that came before the kids who are on the field now. An end to a tradition like this would be devastating, erasing a century’s worth of history and memories.
Though Westfield has a few meaningful sports traditions, there is still a lot of room for expanding and developing. One of the most impactful Blue Devil traditions is the annual Pink Out volleyball game where the Westfield community wears pink and raises money for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A charitable tradition like this one is extremely beneficial since it brings people together for a quality cause.
Developing more charitable traditions like the Pink Out game should not be very difficult. Teams could raise money for a cause that they see fit, and it would uplift the community greatly, especially members who have a personal connection to the cause.
Traditions in Westfield sports help to create a strong school spirit which in turn can help students to have a more enjoyable high school experience. Although meaningful traditions are hard to come by, that does not mean Westfield athletics should not try to create more.
