Sports – AHS NEWSPAPER

The Issue of Gender: New Legislation Bans Transgender Women from Participating in Sports

May 6, 2025

Jillian Slotnick || SPORTS EDITOR

The whistle blows, cleats pound against the turf, and sweat drips as athletes compete under the stadium lights. For many students, the field is a place of competition, teamwork, and passion. But for transgender athletes, it can also be a battleground for identity and acceptance. With new legislation from President Donald Trump restricting transgender women from competing in women’s sports at the collegiate and secondary level, the stakes have never been higher.

In a move that has reignited the ongoing debate over transgender athletes in sports, President Trump has introduced an order restricting transgender women from competing in women’s sports. On February 5, Trump signed an executive order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which states that Title IX requires that women’s and girls’ sports should be limited to individuals who were biologically female at birth, and threatens federal funding for institutions allowing transgender women and girls to compete in women’s sports. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program receiving federal financial assistance. Over half of U.S. states have already enacted laws or regulations restricting the banning of transgender athletes from participating in sports based on their gender identity in K-12 and collegiate levels. A congressional bill seeking to enforce similar restrictions failed to pass the Senate on March 3, and the executive order and state-level actions continue to face legal challenges.

This policy, echoing a wave of similar conservative legislation across the U.S., has drawn strong reactions from both advocates and critics, with many arguing that it oversimplifies a complex issue involving science, fairness, and inclusion. These policies apply not only to athletes in the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) but also to those at the high school level, including those at Andover High School.

According to the Pew Research Center, political polarization in America is at an all-time high, with deep divides across parties on key issues like immigration, healthcare, and social justice. Social media and partisan news fuel differences between parties, which leads to distrust in the government and institutions. Additionally, this division has grown with the election of President Trump, causing strains on political discourse and dampening efforts to find common ground.

As debates continue, both Elbasiony and Long agree that education is key to fostering a more inclusive society. “If schools can’t allow trans athletes to compete on the teams they prefer, they should at least work to make them as comfortable as possible,” Long said. “Even small things like using the right pronouns and being flexible with language can make a big difference.”

For many schools, the issue is out of their hands. Kerry Cashman, Assistant Athletic Director at Andover High School, noted that schools must follow regulations set by governing bodies like the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). “Obviously we always want what’s best for our students, but it’s so difficult…we have to follow MIAA guidelines,” she said. ADs from across the state (including in the Merrimack Valley) have struggled with how to implement this new policy.

Currently, according to the MIAA’s “Gender and Participation” guidelines, “a student shall not be excluded from participation on a gender-specific sports team that is consistent with the student’s bona fide gender identity,” a policy in line with Massachusetts state law (M.G.L. c. 76, sec. 5), which prohibits discrimination in public schools based on gender identity. The U.S. Department of Education has since launched an investigation into the MIAA for “potential Title IX violations.” In response, the MIAA released a statement that said it, “has historically complied with all applicable federal and state laws” and that it is “currently seeking guidance from the Office of the Attorney General and [its] own legal counsel on [its] next step.”

Khaled Elbasiony, a student researching gender identity for his Capstone project, believes that misconceptions about transgender individuals play a significant role in shaping policy. “So many people are uninformed about gender identity,” he said. “If people actually understood the science, this wouldn’t be a big deal legislatively.” He emphasized that transgender women, even before transitioning, often do not have the same physical advantages as cisgender men. “There’s a common misconception that trans women have an overwhelming advantage, but a lot of trans people actually have hormonal imbalances that can put them at a disadvantage.” This is supported by research performed at the University of California San Francisco.

Many people believe the new policies are less about science and more about political control with house members such as U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other democrats agreeing with these sentiments. Additionally, the new executive order doesn’t consider any of the scientific complexities of gender identity in justifying the limitations on transgender athletes, with no mention of a scientific or biological backing for their claims.

For transgender athletes, these policies have real-life consequences. Florian Long, a transgender student who previously played soccer on the girl’s team, shared his struggles with acceptance in sports. “It would have been better to play on the boys’ team because I felt more at home there, and they treated me better.” Long has since quit soccer and is now focused on music.

Long and many others fear that the new legislation will force transgender athletes into an impossible choice: either participate in a sport where they feel unwelcome or quit altogether. “It’s going to make trans kids feel trapped,” said Long. “They’re either going to have to quit or deal with being in an environment where they aren’t accepted. Seeing people like you in sports is an amazing experience. It’s important for kids who are figuring out who they are to know that they belong.”

The question of fairness remains at the heart of the debate. While some argue that transgender women may have competitive advantages, others advocate for policies that support inclusion while ensuring a level playing field. Elbiasony was quick to point out that although it’s not fair to expect people to be comfortable in a team that doesn’t align with their gender, it might be best for athletes to transition before they play on a team different from their sex at birth.

Beyond athletics, the conversation about transgender athletes reflects larger societal debates about gender, identity, and rights. Elbasiony pointed out that the polarization surrounding transgender issues stems from the way society categorizes people. “Labels create division,” he explained. “When you put people into strict categories, it objectifies them. That’s part of why America is so politically divided right now.”

Long believes that, ultimately, policymakers should focus on creating a more accepting environment rather than restricting opportunities. “Trump and others pushing these policies should stay out of other people’s business,” Long said. “This [order] makes trans kids feel invalid and stuck in places where they aren’t happy.”

Articles Sports Trending

Game On, Grades Up

May 1, 2025

ELLA HU || STAFF WRITER

Many Andover High School athletes balance the demands of competitive sports with academic responsibilities and extracurricular involvement, while others prioritize athletics over academics.

Student-athletes face the challenges of juggling demanding sports schedules with rigorous academic coursework. As athletes, they have to attend practices from Monday through Saturday while maintaining their grades. Many find it difficult to participate in after-school clubs due to overlapping commitments. For some, it becomes necessary to wake up early to attend one of the few morning clubs, while others dedicate the time to catch some sleep and spend the afternoons excelling in their sport.

“My only days off are Sundays, and every day I spend on average two hours in practice,” said Sophomore Alanna Fleming. “[When] we have meets, I spend five hours at the track, but I will also have some time to do homework [while] I am waiting for my events.”

Fleming, a devoted athlete since her freshman year, participates in AHS sports year-round. Fleming is a sprinter on the track and field team during the winter and spring seasons. In the fall, she is a member of the AHS girls’ soccer team, but continues with soccer in the spring through a club team. When school ends for everybody else, Fleming continues practicing in the summer for both track and soccer.

Balancing a demanding athletic schedule, Fleming has to make the most of her free time when it comes to staying on top of her grades. She understands that being committed to a sport means letting go of perfectionism when it comes to her schoolwork.

“Since I know I have to get everything done in a certain time frame, I have to cram to get everything done,” Fleming said. “If you don’t get your work done right away, you don’t have that extra time after school.”

Like Fleming, senior James “Jed” Gallaudet, captain of the AHS cross country team in the fall and captain of track and field in the other seasons, has to balance his school work with track. Gallaudet said he was able to get all of his work done by relying on strategies such as keeping his phone in another room and making the most of H-blocks to be productive.

According to AHS Track and Field Coach Mark Hathaway, athletes usually have no issues balancing their homework and athletics. Hathaway believes that as long as athletes utilize and plan their time well, they will have sufficient time to complete everything for school.

Contrary to the belief that athletes will do significantly better during the off-season in academics, Hathaway has observed the opposite—students often maintain or even improve their academic performance while actively participating in sports. “We have a lot of athletes in their season [who] do better than when they are out of season because they have a set schedule,” he said. “When [they] don’t have anything going on, they go home, start procrastinating, and end up not doing the work anyway, so it doesn’t end up being as big of a difference.

Gallaudet was recruited by Colby College spring of his junior year and believes that staying on top of his school work was just as important, if not more, than his track practices. “Although athletics was one of the main ways I was able to get into the college I ended up being at, the only way I could really go there was because I checked the boxes academically,” he said. “Colleges are looking for people who are able to pass classes in college and show rigor in high school.”

Hathaway explains that coaches will always encourage athletes to do well academically and ensure their studies come before their sport. “Number one is family, number two is academics, and number three is your sport,” he said, “but they are always going to be kids who don’t prioritize school by their own choice.”

Being committed to practices every day after school for a minimum of two hours means missing out on AHS clubs that meet after school. Fleming is able to participate in clubs that only meet in the morning, but mentions that there are only a few clubs that do. For Gallaudet, he prioritizes practices over clubs.

“[Track] helped me get into a much better school, [but] to do a sport, you have to prioritize the sport, especially if it’s one you want to be good at, [and] that does mean missing out on things like clubs,” he said.

photo credit: AHS Sprinter Alanna Fleming during her 4×100 event

Sports

Andover Suffers 20-16 Loss to North Andover in Thanksgiving Game

December 14, 2024

Harry Guo and Brandon Nguyen || EXECUTIVE EDITORS

The first half was a showdown between Andover junior Nick Ilsley and North Andover senior Benjamin Iglesias, with both teams exchanging touchdowns in the first quarter. After Andover’s opening drive ended at North Andover’s 26-yard line with a turnover on downs, Iglesias scored on a 71-yard run for North Andover. Taking snaps at quarterback in the Wildcat formation due to injuries to senior starter Dominic Papa and sophomore back-up Kyle Olson, Ilsley responded with a 54-yard kickoff return, which set up his own three-yard touchdown run to tie the game 7-7.

The second quarter started with chaos: North Andover lost 54 yards on three consecutive bad snaps, leading to a safety and a two-point lead for Andover. On the following kickoff, Ilsley returned a squib kick back into the endzone for a 63-yard touchdown, making the score 16-7. Just five minutes later, Iglesias answered with a touchdown of his own, with the 84-yard scoring run cutting their deficit down to 16-14. Later, with nine seconds left on the clock, North Andover attempted a field goal, but the ball doinked the left goalpost and bounced out, leaving the score unchanged.

Although the game was tight in the first half, North Andover took control in the second. North Andover’s quarterback, junior Billy Vincent, led a 70-yard drive that resulted in the touchdown that ended up becoming the game-winning score. Ilsley’s injury and North Andover’s key defensive plays, including two forced turnovers in the final 90 seconds of the game, secured the victory. A strip sack by North Andover at Andover’s own 12-yard line sealed the game, handing Andover its first loss to North Andover since their 2021 matchup at Fenway Park.

Nick Ilsley snaps the ball during Quarter 1. COURTESY PHOTO || Harry Guo

Football Coach Ernest Perry provided insight into the history and tradition of the Thanksgiving game. “The Thanksgiving Day game has been a tradition for over 100 years,” he said, recalling its roots when Andover and North Andover were part of the same town. For Perry, the game encapsulates the “camaraderie and memories” that make high school football unforgettable.

Perry detailed how the team’s seniors ran their final lap in practice, with younger teammates forming a tunnel to honor them before the game. “It’s emotional… but we try to do it the day before,” he said.

The game’s importance extends beyond the field. Perry reminisced about past unforgettable moments, like the dramatic 2015 game where Andover edged out a 42-41 victory with a last-second defensive stop. “Some of these guys have played together for 10 years,” Perry said.

“No matter what happens, I tell all these guys, ‘You’ll remember your Thanksgiving [Games].’ You’ll always have the memory of the guys [you played with], and these games will always come back to you.”

Articles Sports

Swim captain reflects on value of sports as final season approaches

December 13, 2024

By Avery Slaughter
STAFF WRITER

Luke Suh, a senior at Andover High School, is entering his final year on the boy’s swim team as a newly-appointed captain.

While he won’t be continuing to swim competitively in college, the sport has played a vital role in his relationships and identity as a person.

Though he had been swimming competitively since first grade, joining the school’s team in his freshman year was a big adjustment. The focus on community was very different from what he was used to on his various club teams, but the change was an overall positive one. While club swim had a more individualistic approach with an emphasis on personal skills and abilities, the AHS team focused on how they made each other better.

“On the high school team, I definitely feel like I’m doing something more than just for myself,” Suh said.

The emphasis on being a cohesive team assisted Suh in finding many friends at AHS through swimming. This was especially true when he was an underclassman. The shift up to high school was made significantly easier by his position on the team.

In addition to gaining a sense of community, competitive swimming has also helped him build character and leadership skills. As someone new to AHS, the sport assisted him in finding his place in the school. Alternatively, as a sophomore and junior, it allowed him to develop perseverance and discipline in an environment removed from academics. As a captain, that responsibility will be emphasized, but he plans to meet the new challenge head-on.

“I’m supposed to be a good example and all that does definitely build character,” Suh said.

Like many of the sports at AHS, the boy’s swim team is a large commitment. During the season, they meet every weekday for around an hour and frequently meet on weekends as well. Despite the long hours on the weekdays and the occasional meetings during Winter Break, Suh has kept a firmly optimistic attitude regarding the crowded schedule.

Suh said a student should do clubs and sports because they enjoy them, not because they feel obligated to do them. In addition to swimming, Suh also participates in DECA and the Quiz Team. Because of these three activities, he doesn’t have a surplus of free time. His mindset has helped him balance all of his responsibilities.

“It’s a commitment that you make,” Suh said, “and so I just tell myself that I’ve decided to do this, and I’m going to do my best with whatever I’m assigned to do.”

While he still loves swimming, Suh won’t be continuing his competitive career in college. Regardless, he will continue to swim as a recreational activity. It helps him maintain his physical health, but, more importantly, there is another major benefit he gains from it.

“I’m doing [swim] because I enjoy it,” Suh said. “So I don’t care how much time I have to spend or how much sleep I lose. I don’t care. It’s just about doing well.”

Articles Community Events Sports

How Much Pep Could a Pep Rally Rally, If A Pep Rally Could Rally Pep

December 13, 2024

By Jillian Slotnick
SPORTS EDITOR

Student Government and the Jungle organized the celebration, which consisted of pie-eating contests, tug-of-war, and team competitions. This year, students took a major role in planning, as opposed to last year’s rally, which was mainly coordinated by Interim Principal Betty Taylor. The rally was attended by the entire school and had participation from students, teachers, and even Principal Jimmy D’Andrea.

The pep rally is a tangible example of all the work student organizations, such as Student Government and the Jungle, do. Senior Salma Ali, a member of Student Government and one of the main pep rally organizers, said, “We want to get more people excited. A lot of people want to skip the last day or skip the pep rally, so we want to get people more excited, which is why we’re having the Jungle leaders as MCs. [Hopefully] they’ll get people hyped and push them to get involved and be a part of it for the next [few] years.”

Student participation is the heart of any successful pep rally, and at AHS, the energy students bring is unmatched. From chanting school cheers to yelling for their friends, the enthusiasm from the students sets the tone for the event. This year, a number of fall sports, from girl’s swimming and diving to golf, participated in the pep rally. The event planners hoped that competing in events like tug-of-war will serve as bonding experiences and demonstrate team unity.

Unlike in past pep rallies, there was no teacher dance or speech from football coach Ernest Perry. Additional activities are the balloon relay, band performances, and Jungle Leaders also acting as MCs. These changes will hopefully allow for greater student engagement.

STAFF PHOTO/ Jillian Slotnick
Students collide during relay game.

The planning and care put into the pep rally is obvious, and reflected by the palpable excitement shown by the students during the event. Connor Acheson, a captain of the football team, said, “I love [the pep rally]. I think we should have more [of them]. I think the team and everybody in the school get super excited, and it’s a lot of fun: super high energy. And it definitely helps before the big game.”

Perry expressed a similar opinion. “The school really likes it and the players seem to like it [as well],” he said. ”Everybody’s really into it. The energy is great, especially so close to the game. I think it really gets us into that mindset of the Thanksgiving [game] and needing to give it our all because it’s the last time we’ll step on that field this season.”

According to Ali, the annual pep rally does not only increase excitement for the Thanksgiving Day football game, but also elevates overall school pride. By bringing the whole community together, it forms a stronger bond between AHS students. Even administrators have noticed the positive change pep rallies and the presence of the Jungle has on school spirit.

Athletic Director Wayne Puglisi said, “I think that the Jungle has had some great turnouts for our home football games. They’re very supportive of other sports [as well,] which is great to see since that’s not been the case in the past. I feel like school spirit is slowly coming back [after COVID and our changing leadership]. Just the way that students act in the Jungle, how they cheer, and what they do for the different teams and different programs; it’s pretty cool.”

Articles Events Sports

The Charity Football Game is On

November 13, 2024

Diya Manikandan

STAFF WRITER

Andover High School seniors will play in the charity football game on November 25 at the AHS football stadium. This tradition has been happening for over 28 years, and the proceeds are donated to charity after each match.

Formerly known as the “powderpuff” game, the event consists of the usual aspects of a football game but with gender roles reversed. The cheerleaders for the night will be senior boys, whereas the players on the field will be girls from the grade. If any non-gender-affirming students wish to participate, they are welcome to join either team, depending on where they feel most comfortable. Traditionally, the football players are trained by the captains of the cheerleaders, and the cheerleaders are trained by the captains of the football team.

Senior Will Dever, one of the football captains said, “[The charity football game is primarily to] raise money, but also to… bring the school community together and just overall have a good time with the senior class, the ones you were never super close with but now you have a chance to connect with.”

The funds received for the charity football game will be donated to local charities. According to Holly Breen, a longtime AHS staff member and one of the organizers of the game, it hasn’t been decided where the proceeds will go this year. Last year, they were given to Neighbors in Need, a charity that focuses on stopping hunger in Lawrence and the surrounding area.

Breen also said the majority of planning has been done, but some administrative duties remain. For example, the t-shirts that have been sold in the past with team names are still in progress, since the team names are still being decided. However, the last day to vote for a team name is Friday, November 1st.

Breen talked about how this tradition has been happening for as long as she can remember. When asked about a notable memory from this annual event, she recalled that one night, “We had an absolute pour down [of a] rainstorm where we had to do it in the field house.” In addition to this memory, Breen noted that every charity football game is remarkable, due to the entertaining half-time shows, competitive spirit throughout the night, and most importantly, for being an opportunity for all Andover citizens to give back to their community.

Athletes Navigate Unique Challenges in College Sports Recruitment

November 13, 2024

Brandon Nguyen

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Andover High School’s athletes face a vastly different college application process than their peers, navigating the complex world of sports recruitment that involves early outreach, performance assessments, and competitive pressure.

The recruitment process starts early, often around sophomore or junior year, and can be overwhelming, according to Kerry Cashman, the assistant athletic director at Andover High School. “The heaviest amount of recruitment is happening in sophomore and junior years,” Cashman explained. “It really depends on the sport and skill level, and some sports can start as early as middle school.”

The process itself can be daunting, as senior swimmer Amelia Barron described. “It was a little weird at first because no one really tells you [what to do]… so I just started emailing random coaches,” she said. Athletes are often left to initiate contact with potential schools on their own, attending recruitment camps or sending game footage when campus visits aren’t feasible. Barron will be headed to Pomona College next fall to compete on its swim team.

The recruitment process also requires resilience, as athletes often face rejection from coaches. “Some schools just didn’t write back, or they’d write back and say no,” said Barron. “But honestly, just don’t get discouraged because there is a place for you somewhere.”

Senior and lacrosse goalie Addison Glavin, who will be headed to Colby-Sawyer College, also emphasized the pressure of maintaining communication with coaches. “Reaching out to coaches is really difficult… you just think, ‘They’re going to hate me, they’re going to hate me.’”

But both Glavin and Barron agreed that if they had any advice for students going through the sports recruitment process in the future, it would be to have confidence and reach out to colleges as much as possible. As senior Jed Gallaudet put it, “The worst [colleges] can say is no.”

For some athletes, the sports recruitment process can reduce stress around traditional application requirements but adds new forms of pressure, both during and after recruitment. “Once you commit, there’s a little more pressure,” said Gallaudet, who will be part of the cross country and track and field programs at Colby College in the fall. “Now everybody knows you have the skill to compete at the next level.”

Gallaudet also reflected on the pressure of the recruitment process: “[The process] was time-consuming, and it can also put pressure on races that maybe can take away from some of the fun that the sport brings. It sometimes feels like coaches see you as a number.”

Cashman, who was also on the other side of the recruitment process as a college basketball coach at UMass Lowell, emphasized that coaches look for much more than athletic stats: “How did they handle mistakes that they made or their teammates might have made? What was their demeanor on the bench? How did they interact with their coaches? Those were hugely important,” Cashman explained. “I don’t think high school students necessarily know that… they think it’s about how many points they score or how fast their times are. They want kids who are high-quality, high-caliber, and just really good kids.”

For students like senior and field hockey player Lucy Baker, the school for you might not be the one you first expect. Baker, who is committed to Kenyon College, shared, “I thought the recruitment process was already over when Kenyon reached out. It was exciting, but also a little overwhelming to add another option to my list.” Originally looking for schools on the East Coast, Baker decided on Kenyon after visiting their campus in Ohio. “Their academic programs felt like a good fit for me as someone interested in the liberal arts programs they had.”

While each student-athlete’s journey varies, the thread of persistence, early preparation, and adaptability runs through them all. According to Barron, “It’s about finding the place where you fit, both with the team and in the classroom.” All students interviewed emphasized finding the college that speaks to you. As Baker said, “While the process is daunting, what people should really focus on is finding a community of like-minded people at a school and a place they can be happy at.”

Articles Faculty Sports

Coach Perry Returns to Lead Andover Football, Teach Classes

October 4, 2024

Sanjith Kalpat || STAFF WRITER

Perry, who has been an influential figure in Andover’s athletic program — specifically in football and volleyball — and educational communities for over two decades, had initially planned to retire from both teaching and coaching. However, in an unexpected turn, he is back this fall as head coach of Andover High School’s football team and teaching fifth grade at West Elementary.

While Perry’s retirement initially made waves, the full picture is more complex.

According to Wayne “Pug” Puglisi, AHS’ Athletic Director, Perry’s long-time decision to retire from teaching was more final than his coaching role.

“He’s met his teaching retirement responsibilities,” Puglisi confirmed.

Despite this, Perry is currently in the classroom at West Elementary School right now, substituting another fifth-grade teacher, Scott Price, who has been out on medical leave.

As for coaching, Perry was unsure.

“I would say that he never really left [coaching football],” Puglisi mentioned. “He and I had conversations about what he wanted to try to do, whether or not he wanted to go hang out with his grandson down in Florida or if he wanted to be with his son who was playing professionally, [or] to see his [other] son who is also just starting his college career…We had prepared for him to not coach again this fall. But it turns out that he [decided to coach after all].”

For Perry, returning to both teaching and coaching wasn’t a difficult choice. “For coaching, I love the competitive stuff,” he said. “Teaching, I love getting kids to do things they think they can’t do.”

The AHS football team, which has long benefited from Perry’s leadership, continues to push. Along with his hard-working assistant staff, they aim to continue the success from the past two years.

STAFF PHOTO || Sanjith Kalpat
Coach Perry celebrates after wide reciever Julian Martinez catches a touchdown, putting Andover up 21-6 versus Lowell.

One of Perry’s standout players, junior defensive lineman Jan Carlos Aquino, expressed, “It is great to have Coach Perry back at it again. He is a very good coach, and I was excited to hear that he was back.”

Additionally, Puglisi emphasized how Perry’s presence had always been about more than just winning games, saying that he cares for the athletes, looks out for their best interests, and builds great relationships with the players. According to Puglisi, he’s able to balance the things that happen from academic, social, and athletic standpoints.

As for what lies beyond this season, Perry himself remains noncommittal in his future with volleyball.

“[The teaching] part of his career is wrapping up, but the coaching side? That’s a private discussion between Perry and me. We’ll see,” said Puglisi.

Puglisi ended, “If you count the number of years he’s coached and the number of years he’s taught, the generations of people that have been in his classroom and on his fields, I think is immense. I can’t even begin to tell you the impact that he’s had on all of those students and all of those athletes’ lives. It’s too big to count.”

Football Team Adapts to Extended Schedule

October 4, 2024

Jillian Slotnick || SPORTS EDITOR

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) has stated that football teams are allowed to play eight games in nine weeks. However, this year Andover was able to play an endowment game, an extra match to earn money for the school and the MIAA that is not considered for the team’s seeding in the state tournament.

This extended season is a one-year occurrence, due to calendar changes. Labor Day fell earlier than usual, on September 2, and Thanksgiving later, on November 28. This allows for an extra weekend in the qualifying period for the state tournament, granting teams extra days they wouldn’t have during a normal season. For Andover, that culminated in an extra game. Football began on August 16, similarly to other fall sports, which started on August 19.

“[The extended season] only affects the teams positively. We are really able to get an extra scrimmage with a lot of excitement,” head coach Ernest “EJ” Perry said. “The team dynamic is also impacted positively with the introduction of an endowment game. We are able to [put] more players in a game situation at the beginning of the year to look at who is doing a good job and who is ready for [our first regular season game.]”

COURTESY PHOTO
Dominic Papa to Nick Ilsley for a touchdown against Shrewsbury to go up 20 – 9.

Perry also recognized the team captains—Connor Acheson, William Dever, and Dominic Papa—for showing great leadership and work ethic throughout the preseason, highlighting the impact they had for just showing up.

“I think it’s also really helpful for team morale and team chemistry,” said Dever. “In addition to having an extra week, we also start before any other sport, so [although it’s]… a little tougher physically, you get to create [more] chemistry with your teammates… [The endowment game] was nice to prepare for our actual schedule though, which started on September 13.”

Although the Warriors lost the endowment game against Pinkerton Academy from New Hampshire on September 6, the experience still had benefits. The flexibility of a low-stakes game allowed people who would not normally get much playing time to showcase their skills. It also gave the team an opportunity to run plays against a real opponent, which will be vital for the rest of the season.

“[The team has] played [endowment games against] teams out of state before,” Perry said. “[I]t’s sort of a disadvantage playing a team from Florida or even New Hampshire because [New Hampshire’s] season starts a week earlier and Florida has already played a game. Our season always runs from August 16 to Thanksgiving. Preparing for another game is not really a problem except… we don’t have as many practices [beforehand.]”

Student-Faculty Basketball Game Upcoming

May 6, 2024

By Minati Thota
STAFF WRITER

The student-faculty basketball game is scheduled for April 3 during H-block and is being organized by the Sophomore Board led by Mary Testa.

Students can either sign up to watch through MyFlexLearning, or volunteer to play. The faculty team of 12 staff members is held secret until the day of the game. “Mr. Bledsoe [will be on] the mic,” Testa provided.

The student-faculty basketball game is an annual event organized by the class boards. The faculty team won last year’s game, but the playing field is level again this year. Testa predicts an exciting showdown and encourages students to join. “We expect a better turnout this year,” she added, referring to the students playing as well as the audience.