Throughout the fall sports season, primarily before game days, many teams around campus will coordinate spirit outfits and themes. The Girls’ Varsity Soccer team consistently participates in this ritual before their games. So far this season, some of their spirit days have included “blackout,” “pinkout,” and “cowgirl” themes. According to captain Larissa Rubeiz ‘26, the team “loves spirit days” and always “looks forward to them.” She feels spirit days are a “good way to get hype for our next game,” and that the team plans to try more themes like “USA” and “Risky Business.”
The Varsity Football team is another team on campus that has participated in spirit days this fall season. So far this year, they have worn game jerseys to school and donned business attire. Having all the players wear jerseys “helps [the team] get focused for the game and increases our team chemistry,” said defensive back Nate Walsh ‘28. He also noted that “wearing our jerseys serves as a reminder that we are all one unit and we need to work together.”
Jersey swaps are another tradition on campus that connects the athletes on spirit days. On October 10, the Football team swapped jerseys with the Varsity Field Hockey team, and the Girls Varsity Soccer team swapped jerseys with the Boys Varsity Soccer team. “It is a great way to bring the athletic community together,” said Colin Laurence ‘26. “It makes us more encouraged to support each other,” he added. Although the jersey swaps from October 10 are an annual tradition for those teams, there are potential future swaps in the fall season. During the second half of the season, the Football team plans to do a swap with the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team, implementing a new tradition.
Additionally, Boys’ Varsity Soccer, according to Dante Chia ‘26, puts “cleats in a circle and Jordan Munsey [‘26] tells us to be quiet.” Chia cited the reason for their team spirit as showing that they “care about the little moments in order to perfect them on game day.”
Moreover, Boys’ Cross Country engages a team spirit slightly further removed from clothing. Each Friday they organize cart runs where they play music and run around campus with a grocery cart filled with miscellaneous items. Boys’ Cross Country runner Arsen Shymon ‘27 commented, “[On Saturday October 18] we had a team dinner, and we are going to have a McDonald's run.” Shymon also noted, “I feel like such traditions show that people on your team care, and for them it’s not only about running, but about making everyone feel welcomed on a team, and I really appreciate it.”