“School rivalries are important because they bring out the best in each team,” said Tabor Academy Head of School John Quirk during an all-school meeting on Friday, November 13. Tabor students kept this in mind on Saturday when they took to the fields, ready to confront their rivals at Holderness School in an annual daylong competition.
Tabor’s rivalry with Holderness began relatively recently, when the last headmaster, Jay Stroud, declared it so. Holderness School, located in New Hampshire, is relatively far from Tabor, and the rivalry was established mainly because Stroud had worked there before coming to Tabor. The fact that Holderness and Tabor don’t meet during regular sports seasons, however, makes Holderness Day all the more exciting.
“There are so many reasons why I think it is a great day for the community,” said Tabor Athletics Director Dick Muther. “Many people – almost 250 athletes and coaches – are involved, and many alums have spoken to me about remembering being a part of Holderness Day. The sportsmanship, spirit, and energy you see on the day are just great.”
Holderness Day definitely represents a peak in school spirit for Tabor students. In the week leading up to the day, there are various dress-up days including Home Country Day, Favorite Sports Team Day, and Tabor Day to get people excited about facing Holderness. Then, on Friday night, varsity teams perform dances or skits in a pep rally to encourage everyone to play their hardest Saturday or, if they don’t participate in a fall sport, to attend the games and cheer their fellow students on.
Holderness Day alternates between being hosted at Holderness or at Tabor. This year, Tabor hosted the games, which added to the excitement.
“The Tabor stands were packed with loud, cheering spectators,” said Muther. “There were crowds everywhere: parents, students, family members, alums, even people from the town.”
Many members of last year’s graduating class made the trip up, supporting teams they used to play for and friends that still attend Tabor. The newly-constructed bleachers by the football field really were packed, and students brought out blankets, hats, and coats to combat the cold and continue to show their support.
Bridget Lattimer, captain of the Field Hockey team, said, “A lot of students came to cheer each other on and really made the effort to see as many games as they could. It’s really fun to have this day of rivalry where students and faculty come together as a community to participate.”
As an added bonus, Tabor won Holderness Day, ending the day with six wins, two losses, and one tie. Tabor got to keep the Holderness Day trophy, which has remained at Tabor for the last couple of years.
“The most impressive part of the day,” said Muther, “was not the win, but the amazing school spirit we demonstrated. I was very impressed by the support of the community.”
As Quirk promised, Holderness Day really did bring out the best in all the athletes and spectators who attended the games, and both schools had much to be proud of in both their accomplishments and their communities.
By Madeleine Gregory
