First home football game a success despite loss
Student section cheers on the varsity team and marching band as they walk onto the field.
Varsity football players cheering on their teammates as they go for a touchdown.
On Fri., Aug. 26, the Dukes football team played its first game against the New Trier Trevians. The sophomore team lost their game 28-20. Varsity played a very close game and were in it until the final play of the fourth quarter, but lost the game 14-10.
Although they lost, the players believe in their talent and know there is room for improvement.
“I think, with the talent we have on our team, we will have a good shot at making the playoffs,” said Matt Gracik, a senior on varsity. “If our team erased some mistakes [and] had converted on key plays, that game would’ve been in our favor.”
Perhaps the team’s spirits were lifted by the halftime performance from the marching band, poms and cheer.
Not only did the football team play well, the cheer, poms, and marching band’s halftime show during the varsity game went well as well. For the first year, cheer is able to perform during the halftime show every game. The girls and boys on the team are extremely excited to have this happen, especially Morgan Bojesen, a senior on varsity cheer.
“Now everyone gets to see us improve as the season goes on, and we get to show off our skills,” Bojesen said. “I was a little bit nervous because I wasn’t sure what to expect but also very excited at the same time and after we performed, we all had so much fun doing it!”
After the halftime show, pep band, cheer, and poms celebrating their performance.
Members of the various groups enjoyed working together to create the halftime show.
“I really like having all of us there. It’s awesome that we are able to bring poms, band and cheer together for halftime,” said Norah Haarstad, a sophomore on varsity poms.
The students are very excited for the rest of the season and being able to see each group improve. Many students, whether they performed or not, are still pleased with how the halftime show turned out.
“I felt like a proud mom watching from the press box,” said Mikayla Castora, senior, who unfortunately was ill and could not perform with the color guard. “I was nervous for everyone else; I really wanted it to look good, and it did!”
Marching Band at the halftime show performing the fight song.
The Dukes will be away this Friday at Leyden High School’s Stadium at 7:30 p.m., but the uplifting halftime show will return to York Stadium on Fri., Sept. 9.
Madeleine DeGrace is a senior on staff. This is her fourth year in a journalism class, and she loves it. She is editor in chief of the 100 year yearbook...
Isabelle Downey is a senior and has been on staff for the past three years. This year, she is the Editor-in-Chief of Y's Tales. She is involved in YTV,...
