WOODBURY — There’s a reason Nonnewaug sports bring pride to the Tribe: When other schools come to “the home of the Chiefs,” acres of championship banners and screaming student sections greet them.
On Sept. 19, all teams except cross country and golf will face rivals on Nonnewaug’s home turf. These annual homecoming game days showcase a core value of Nonnewaug High School: fan culture.
“I think from what I’ve seen so far, it’s just the backbone of the school,” Nonnewaug athletic director Andrew Tammero said. “We have a lot of quality teams, a lot of great individual athletes, and we’re always going for league championships. Our sports program just brings everyone together; we have lots of students and athletes who show their love and support for their team as well as other teams.”
Talented teams are only part of what makes Nonnewaug athletics successful. Junior football players Rocco Varrone and Brayden Whipple think filled student sections bring out the best in teams.
“I think it creates a great atmosphere,” Varrone said. “It brings a lot of energy to the team: When it’s quiet, there’s not really energy and we’re just not really playing hard or focused at all.”
“It gets you pumped up,” Whipple adds. “Your adrenaline starts rushing more. You have a reason to play hard.”
Senior Ellie McDonald, a girls soccer player and member of Athletes’ Council, thinks themed home games are an important part of achieving big crowds.
“Themes for the games help bring the school together,” McDonald said. “People will come out to show support, and also hang out with their friends. Having a theme adds a fun aspect in that everyone can dress up and wants to show off their outfit.”
To help motivate a big turnout, Nonnewaug Athletes’ Council has decided to do a gold-out in support of the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer.
“Traditionally, our homecoming sports day gets a lot of engagement between our student-athletes and our whole student body,” co-advisor of Athletes’ Council Kyle Brennan said. “Any time you can add a theme, it makes people want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and we’re very excited this year to ‘go gold’ to raise awareness for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.”
With both winning the games and fundraising for cancer on the line, Tammero hopes that fans decked out in gold will be crowding the home fields.
“If we start showing up early for soccer and volleyball and field hockey, then by the time the winter season comes around, we’ll have a good fan base and a good culture that’ll go right into basketball and the other sports,” Tammero said. “So you know, when Thursday rolls around, let’s get out there early and get loud!”
