Abbie Dymond, Sports Editor
@abbiedcourant
The sports atmosphere has always been prominent in New Canaan, with an influx of support always coming from the community and students to the school’s sports teams. For players on the team, playing means more than just winning school pride; it’s about the team connections, which come from traditions. Traditions within sports teams create a sense of purpose, raise awareness for meaningful things, and bring the teams together.
On game day, varsity athletes can always be spotted wearing themed outfits together as teams. Before playing a big rival such as Darien, teams often have specific outfits that they will wear. Michael Norton, senior soccer captain, said “Against Darien, for the last couple of years, we’ve always done a tuxedo look with button-down shirts, ties, and coats.”
One of the reasons athletes wear team outfits on game day is to show unity and readiness for the upcoming game. As most teams have, the swim team also has a unique outfit just for playing Darien. Skylar Mascarinas, senior swim captain, said that “We dress up blue for Darien; why we wear blue, I have no idea.”
Having traditions adds experiences to look forward to other than playing the sport, further uniting the team. “Beginning of the season, we have a pool party with both the girls’ team and the guys’ team. Everyone just comes and hangs out, and it is a good way of team building. You get to meet everyone, and it is fun,” Michael said.
Connor Bailey, senior and football captain, said “The most prominent one is the turkey bowl. Every year at 10:30 on Thanksgiving, we play Darien. It’s the biggest crowd we get all season, and it’s a really good tradition.”
For celebrating a home win, the football team always goes “to Vicolo’s to get pizza straight from the game. All the coaches and parents are there, and we all get pizza. It’s really fun to celebrate a win there,” Connor said.
Having traditions, such as team outfits and events like the Turkey Bowl that are passed down from generation to generation, creates team bonds that unite the teams even after seniors have graduated.
“A lot of the graduated players are involved with the team. I know people have come back and coached for a little bit or just came in for a pregame speech.” Connor said. “From being part of a team and going through those traditions, they like to come back and give back to the current team.”
Like the football team, the swim team has many traditions such as cheers, games, fundraisers, and team bonding events. They have created lasting bonds that involve graduated players in current traditions and team events.
Many graduated players came back at the annual NCSD (New Canaan Swim and Dive) fundraising car wash. Senior and Captain Skylar Mascarinas said “We had many alumni who have even graduated college come back and support our team. We washed their cars, but they were helping us wash their cars, which made it really fun.”
NCSD alumni also come back every year for the Alumni meet around Christmas break. During the meet, alumni race the current athletes and have a reunion, which is something that many people on the team look forward to. At the alumni meet, graduated athletes get to know the new players, which is a way for the NCSD community to connect.
Many traditions that sports teams have, have raised awareness for something meaningful or recognized respected people within the community.
In recognition of their friend who passed away from leukemia, the soccer team wore their Kaleigh’s Crew sweatshirt. “For this whole month, we will be wearing our Kaleigh’s Crew sweatshirt, which we designed to support Karen’s fund for our friend Kayleigh Griffiths, who sadly passed away, and so we’ve been wearing that shirt every Friday before games,” Michael said.
A tradition that has continued over the years for the swim team is the Kelly Divine meet. “Every year, we do the Kelly Divine meet, which celebrates the life of a teacher in New Canaan and a swim coach in Norwalk, so it’s always against Norwalk,” Skylar said. “It’s all to celebrate the life of a woman who impacted New Canaan and Norwalk’s communities a lot, and the whole English department comes in honor of her, so it’s really nice.”
Senior night, which all teams participate in, is one of the longest-standing traditions at NCHS and is something important to all teams. “You have to put so much work into playing one game on the weekend, and by doing senior night, you get acknowledged for all the hard work that you put in for four years,” Connor said. “It’s a nice way to be appreciated for all the work you put in.”
Having traditions on teams gives athletes a sense of comfort since they’ve been going on for so long. “It feels comforting to know that this is something that our team has been doing for so long. Between the upperclassmen and underclassmen, everyone is more together and more spirited as NCSD,” Skylar said.
Having traditions on the team is a way of honoring all the work and effort athletes contribute to their team. Connor said, “A lot of the traditions are left by teams, so it gives a team a mark. When you leave the program, you want to be remembered in a certain way.”
