To some, November is part of football season. Here at North Hunterdon, it is still football season, but in a different sort of sense. A chilly November 4 saw the girls from the junior and senior play the game normally reserved for boys.
The game has been going at North for a long time, and it is Ms. Nicole Meister’s fifth year being a coach. Meister coached the senior girls’ team this year, and she is proud to say that the program has grown since she first started coaching. “There used to be a lot of men involved, but now there is a lot more of a female influence,” she said.
Before the game this year, Meister said, “We have a few new tricks up our sleeve, including new plays and players.” This was certainly evident as the seniors were victorious 28-0. From the beginning, senior quarterbacks Jill Kennedy, Kayla Parker, and Allison Lane were able to get the ball into the end zone. One of the most impressive touchdowns was scored when the ball was thrown by Parker to Kennedy. Kennedy caught in the middle of the field and then ran it into the end zone.
Meister says that this game was special because, “It was not one or two people who carried the team, but everyone helped to win.” Meister also attributes some of her success to the senior boys that helped to coach the team, including Griffin Hatton, Shane Cassidy, Adam Hett, Greg Buckhout, and Jacob Johnson. She also says that this is the “best Powder Puff team I have ever coached.”
It is also important to note that this is the first time in two years that seniors have won the Powder Puff game. For Meister, it was a tradition that she started with the junior team of 2011 and ended with the senior team this year.
The junior team was coached by Miss Rebecca Schaefer and Mr. Kevin Kley, both new teachers at North this year. They were also helped by juniors Warren Watkins and Frankie Januzzi, and are both looking forward to next year. Schaefer said, “Mr. Kley and I worked really well together, and came up with great offensive and defensive strategies.” Quarterbacks for the junior team were Dawn Byron and Arianna McCardle. Despite the loss, Schaefer and Kley expect to bring up the level of play next year.
Spectators were also able to witness the always entertaining Powder Puff cheerleaders. Mrs. Summer Morris coached the junior boys and was helped by juniors Dani Deibert and Olivia Reiner. Both the junior and senior boys prepared a routine to perform at the half-time show, and despite some music issues, the performance was great. Deibert said, “I’m so proud of all the boys. Their hard work really paid off.”
During the game, the clubs at North sold concessions next to the snack shack to fundraise for the year. Student Council sold nachos and hot chocolate, which were very popular due to the cold weather. Amnesty International sold pizza, also a popular choice for the spectators at the game.
Although football brings to mind images of Friday night lights and Sunday night couches, at North it also involves girls tag football on a Monday night. Be sure to come out next year to watch the Powder Puff game, and witness something a little different.