Jay, who has lived in the Waukesha area for nearly 20 years, is an active volunteer who serves on numerous local boards and committees. He’s married to Colleen with three kids having gone through the Waukesha schools. He is the VP of a local distribution company and currently serves on several area Boards.
Friday night…Waukesha North Stadium…Under the lights…Stands are packed…Waukesha West vs. Waukesha North…Let the game begin!
The damp, cool air hanging over the North Field greeted you as the teams entered. Everything was so …“High School”: Parent boosters selling school merchandise while others staffed the concession stands; kids mulling about hooking-up with “their group” as others crammed into the standing-room-only student section; a moment of silence for the National Anthem; and then the kickoff.
Players parents grouped together in the stands - living each down as if they were on the field; sharing each other’s anguish over a player’s mistake, or congratulating a mom or dad after a play where their son’s number and name is singled out over the stadium speakers. Marching band, cheerleader, pom squad, and alumni parents, siblings, and relatives enjoying the game while waiting for the half-time performances.
And the talk in the stands…”Is West 4-0 and North 0-4?... That #74 is a big kid… #16 is being recruited by Wisconsin…Can North hold the lead?...Who did they play last week?...How’s South this year?...What was that coach thinking?...Can North hang-on?...Wow-did you feel the power of the brass section?...Do you think West will adjust for the second half?...Who’s going with who to Homecoming?...Are you going to State for marching band?...Why don’t they move their secondary in?...They gotta cover that kid or he’ll kill us”…and finally: “The kids really played their hearts out - what a great game!”
And that’s really what it’s all about. Kids and parents understanding that ‘The Game” was the backdrop for bringing kids closer together; players played, cheerleaders cheered; poms danced; marching band wowed everyone; and the student section cheered as one. The parents enjoyed one another’s company and left with a “looking forward to next week’s game” feeling.
There is nothing more encompassing and more pure in amateur athletics then high school football. Fierce rivalries are renewed between schools. Schools win and lose as a “team”. School spirit and school pride are proudly on display. The embarrassment of mistakes and the exultant feeling of success provide the balance for an interaction that bridges age, gender, social and economic differences. Near-neighbor parents are brought a little closer together. And ultimately, when this many people are a part of something really special, the entire Waukesha Community gets …that…much…better!
For the record – Waukesha North jumped out to 21-0 lead. West battled back, scoring just before halftime making it 21-7. The Waukesha North Marching Band “owned” the crowd with a great halftime performance. West battled back superbly in the second half and was driving for the tying score as the game wound down. With seconds remaining, North intercepted in the West end zone.
Final score: Waukesha North 28 Waukesha West 20
