For many WHS students and community members, Friday nights in the fall mean football. Whether they come to support their friends on the field, spend time with their friends in the stands, or simply take part in the overall atmosphere, students, family members, and faculty continue to fill the stands each week.
Beyond supporting the football team, Friday night games give students a chance to reconnect with peers and relax after a long week.
“It’s really someplace where you can just hang out with your friends,” said senior Nathan Tavares. “Supporting the football team gives you something fun at the end of the week to look forward to.”
For some fans, attending these games is as much about enjoying the environment as the sport itself.
“There’s just something special about a cool, crisp Friday night in the fall with the band playing, the cheerleaders out there, and the stands packed with friends and family,” said athletic director Mike McGrath. “It comes down to town pride and the community coming out to support our team.”
Given the typical WHS student’s busy schedule Monday through Friday, taking a break and going to the game at the end of the week is also a chance to unwind and reconnect.
“There are those friends you don’t really get the chance to see as much in a group setting, so attending football games gives you the opportunity to hang out with that group of friends,” said sophomore Talia Parsekian.
For younger students especially, the anticipation surrounding Friday night games can begin when they witness the school spirit aspect that most chose to involve themselves in.
“As a freshman, for me it’s really about the excitement and build-up that has come with getting to go to these games,” freshman Erica Scipione said. “All of middle school, my friends and I looked forward to the time when we could go as high schoolers and participate in the themes.
One of the many enticing aspects of the games for students is the fun of getting to dress up a certain way to match the theme of the game. For example, at the home opener this season, the theme was “U.S.A” where students arrived dressed in red, white, and blue attire, with face paint and fun costumes. Other examples of past themes have been blackout, neon, whiteout, and pink-out.
“Being a member of the football team, it’s always so cool seeing all of my friends and just other kids at my school show up and support us,” senior Alex Campo said. “The themes are always fun too; for example, this week is USA themed and usually people go all out.”
The packed stands also contribute positively to players’ ability to perform at a high level.
“It definitely gets me amped up knowing that everyone is there to watch you and really helps motivate me to do my best,” said senior football captain Luke Betty. “The crowd is for sure a big factor in the game. When we are [playing at] home, I build off the crowd’s energy and it usually impacts my performance in a positive way.”
Beyond the game itself, Friday night games also give members of the broader Weston community a chance to reconnect with one another.
“In a town like Weston, a lot of these kids have known each other since kindergarten, and the parents have often known each other just as long,” Daina Selvig, mother of football team captain Massimo Selvig, said. “The stands and sidelines become a chance to catch up with people you may not see every day. I also love watching kids on the field or in the stands who I remember as little kids; [that’s when] you suddenly realize how long you’ve all been doing life together.”
The combination of families, friends and peers in general filling the stands is what many players feel drives them towards their overall success.
“I would describe the crowd as loud,” Betty said. “My friends always get super hyped for me and the rest of the team, and I can hear them cheering as I play. It’s a super fun vibe amongst all the competition.”
Whether sitting in the stands or competing on the field, for those at these games, the energy of fall football home games is tangible.
“Friday night games bring both the school and the town together,” McGrath said. “Students get to show their pride by cheering on their classmates, while community members get to come out, support the team, and think back on their own high school days. You really can’t beat that.”
