WOODBURY — To the spectators and referees their numbers are just a way to tell them apart, but to the athletes wearing them, there’s meaning behind this so-called small detail.
“The number your wear says something, it’s a statement to the opposing team,” said former division one athlete and Vice Principal Declan Curtin. “Part of being a good athlete is getting in people’s heads, you take every advantage you can get.”
In every aspect of sports, there’s a story behind the number. Legends like Messi with #10, Michael Jordan with #23, and Jackie Robinson #42 are remembered not only for their performance but for the numbers that became part of their identity.
For some fans, admiration goes beyond cheering in the stands, inspiring them to carry those same numbers onto the field.
“I wanted to be like Diego Maradona and Pele, who also wore number 10,” said Curtin.
The meaning behind a number varies from athlete to athlete — from birthdays to religious beliefs, these numbers define who they are.
Nonnewaug sophomore Rosie Makarewicz, has been loyal to the same number her entire life.
“I’ve worn the number 22 since I was little,” said Makarewicz. Makarewicz is known for her diligent midfield presence. “I originally got it for my birthday but then after wearing it for so long, it became my lucky number. Now it’s a little superstition that I have.”
While Makarewicz’s attachment to number 22 is a superstition developed over time, freshman Alexa Lodice is following a family legacy, choosing her number to honor both her sister and her faith.
“The number 3 in general is passed through generations of my family. My sister wore number 33 in high school and I want to follow in her footsteps,” said Lodice. “The 3 represents the holy trinity and good luck with God.”
Freshman Charlotte Medonis also connects the number 11 to her religious beliefs.
“It’s my lucky number and the number I resonate with God,” said Medonis. Medonis is one of the few freshman contributors in this past year of the girls soccer team. “It’s nice to have that on my back.”
For some athletes, their number isn’t chosen, but assigned and meaning develops over time.
“I always wore number one for basketball,” said former UConn basketball player and science teacher Rabecca Pope. “Freshman year, you just take the uniform that fits you the best. I got stuck with it, but then I didn’t want to change numbers.”
That attachment followed her into college where she was forced to adapt.
“My roommate in college was my former rival in high school and we both wore the number 1,” said Pope. “Our coach, to avoid any conflict, had neither of us wear it. I switched to number 20, and that’s been my number ever since.”
Whether chosen or reassigned, the significance of a number does not come from the jersey — it comes from the story behind it.
“Numbers are something that athletes really resonate with, and there’s always a reason no matter how big or small,” said NHS LMC staff member Dawn Maletzke. “I have personally been a really big soccer fan and I still play to this day. [My number] reminds me of the time I earned my spot on the boys’ high school varsity soccer team when they didn’t have a girls team. Now, I get to share this number with my cousin who plays college sports.”
