By Matthew DiMarco
Photo credits: Neeyam Patel
Like most (if not all) students of CHS, I attended games during Cougar Weekend. I went to the football games and both soccer games, and had a great time doing so. While the atmospheres were electric for all, there were very different vibes for each game.
The first game I attended was the boys’ soccer game. Since I had a game of my own, I arrived at the Cougar Field bleachers a little after kickoff. The stands were packed, even though the match had just gotten started. The student section contained four layers, one for each grade. Seniors were at the bottom of the bleachers (and at the top of the hierarchy). Meanwhile, freshmen were crammed at the top. Still, it didn’t matter where you sat, as everyone was excited just to be there, supporting their school. The vibes were especially high for this game. The weekend had just begun, creating an array of possibilities. With every shot, pass, and slide tackle, the crowd roared. Slightly after halftime, the excitement tapered slightly, likely due to the short attention spans of teenagers. But the crowd was rejuvenated towards the end, especially after the boys secured a 5-0 win. The loudest the crowd became occurred after the game, when the team ran to the bleachers and waved to the student section after securing the win. The cheers celebrating our warriors could probably have been heard from the high school.
Since the girls’ game started immediately after the boys’, the energy was already high, and it was boosted by the fact that this was a night game. There’s something about night games that creates a mystical sensation. After what felt like an eternity waiting for warmups to commence, the girls ran out, sporting pink-dyed hair. Everyone got to their feet and started screaming. The opponent scored early in the game, temporarily quieting the crowd, but Cougar Nation wasn’t to be silent for long. After Chatham scored to regain the lead, the crowd roared louder than ever. Throughout this game, the sun was slowly setting, light ceding to darkness. The number of cars passing on Shunpike slowly diminished, making it seem like the game was the only thing going on in the world. Fireflies danced around the students, shining their light. The night felt almost magical. Eventually, the girls pulled away with a 3-1 win, making it a clean sweep for Chatham’s soccer teams.
The next night, I attended the football game. My friends and I arrived a little over an hour before kickoff, trying to get decent seats. Still, even that early, the bleachers were over 50% full, showing everyone’s excitement for the game. And boy, was there a lot of excitement. The game itself had it all–touchdowns, big hits, spectacular catches, turnovers. The crowd’s energy was unmatched. Clearly, a message on the “Cougar Nation” Facebook page imploring everyone to be louder had its intended effect. It never got quiet, even when it seemed like the opponent had a chance to win. Every touchdown made way to a mosh pit in the stands. People were crowd-surfing, chucking water, and screaming at the top of their lungs. The atmosphere was incomparable to anything else I’ve ever witnessed. After Chatham’s 30-18 victory, students lingered in the bleachers, reveling in the moment. Many left the game drenched, with their ears ringing, but above all thrilled to have partaken in such a fun, energizing event.
Nights like these turn into lifelong memories for all of us. These are the things you cherish, as you are only a high schooler once. Hopefully, next year’s Cougar Weekend can match the excitement from this year’s, but the bar was set very high!