Woodland has a plethora of strong sports teams that create an intimidating reputation in the Valley. Sports of all seasons tend to conquer not only the NVLs but also the state competitions. Although Woodland has a small student body, the sports teams would not be nearly as intimidating without them. No matter the day of the week or the time of the game, there is always a reserved section in the stands that Woodland students fill.
This is especially true for football games.
Having such a big turnout for the football games is partly due to the themes of the games. Every week leading up to the game, team Captain Darren Gasparri, picks a theme that is then approved by Athletic Director, Chris Decker. Once the theme is decided, it will get posted all over social media, mainly Hawk Headlines and the student-run “The Hawk’s Nest” Instagram pages. From that point on, every Woodland student is expected to show up in the game decked out in gear to unify the student section. Students go all out, grabbing whatever they can from their closets, or even making trips to stores like Party City to fit the theme.
Repeatedly there has been a blackout for the Hawk’s black and gold colors; however, these themes can be anything. There also have been more unique themes such as neon out, white out, American (red, white, and blue), and even Hawaiian themes. But these themes are not always just for the fun of the students, they sometimes have a much deeper meaning.
One example is the yearly “pink out”. For one game every October, all of the students –even those on the field– can be seen rocking pink. Some football players will wear pink tape, socks, or sleeves. The dancers and cheerleaders are decorated with pink bows, beads, and pompoms as well. This is all to help raise awareness for breast cancer, as October is breast cancer awareness month. The wave of pink on the hill is hard to miss, and all of the students have fun trying to see who has the pinkest closet. Not to mention, it is for a good cause.
This year, there will also be a “War in the Woods” theme for the Woodland vs. Seymour game. The football team started a fundraiser for Woodland’s assistant Coach Dennis Wanzie’s granddaughter, Alivia Valeri. Valeria was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and needs a craniotomy. The proceeds will be given to her family to help pay for her treatment. Both Woodland and Seymour sold shirts, making it a competition to see who can sell the most shirts and raise the most money. It has proven to be a simple but effective way to get the whole community involved in supporting a Woodland family in need.
Whether it is just for the fun of the students, or for the betterment of the community, the way the theme of football games unites the student section is undeniable. The passion of the student section adds to the motivation of playing and is nearly impossible to miss by the rivaling teams.
