On October 27, the atmosphere of the boys soccer night game against Tabor Academy was electric. Students proudly wearing their new Groton merchandise surged at the sidelines, turning their heads at each move of the players. This fall witnessed a revival of school spirit among Groton students, marked by heightened participation during Spirit Week and impressive turnout at home sports games.
During the COVID-19, Groton experienced a notable dwindling of school spirit. Colby Gund ’24, a co-Head of the Spirit Committee, explained that the lack of interscholastic athletic games made it challenging to preserve the culture of spirit. But following this years-long decline, the Spirit Committee felt the need to revamp the energy this year.
The resurgence of school spirit can be attributed to the efforts of this year’s Spirit Committee. After receiving approval from Headmaster Temba Maqubela, the committee decided to distribute free, customized Roll Zeebs shirts to the entire student body. Nate Johnson ’24, another co-Head of the Spirit Committee, explained that the shirts were meant to “provide an opportunity for every student to wear Groton merch to the games, preventing exclusion amongst students who cannot afford it otherwise.” The spirit shirts bolstered a sense of solidarity, amplifying the collective cheering for Groton and undoubtedly contributing to the increased attendance at games.
“We are matching the spirit of pre-COVID Groton, and it is great to see more people attending games,” said Keira Ley ’24, who came in 2019 as a Second Former and is one of the last among the student body to have experienced the fabled “pre-COVID Groton.”
In addition to the iconic Roll Zeebs shirts, the Spirit Committee brought back the beloved post-win cart pull. On the evening of St. Mark’s Day, winning varsity teams celebrated their triumphs by riding around the Circle on a tractor driven by Associate Director of College Counseling Mark Machan. Director of Student Activities Tim Leroy explained that, initially, the committee faced a challenge since the antique cart was deemed unsafe for student use. However, the committee resolved this issue by introducing a tractor pull, ultimately revitalizing and remastering the tradition. The bonfire was canceled mostly due to the inconvenience it caused the Groton Fire Department. But Colby said, “The taking away of the bonfire motivated us to bring in the tractor pull, so we can preserve some of the Groton traditions.” Subsequently, many students walked along the tractor and cheered for the Groton teams, reviving the spirit surrounding this beloved ritual.
Both the Roll Zeebs shirts and the tractor pull provided dynamic ways to support and celebrate the school community. As echoes of cheers envelop the Circle, Groton’s school spirit has been rekindled, and this surge of enthusiasm will hopefully continue throughout the year.
