JV Sports in a Varsity World

Nicholas Papadopolous


The affairs of varsity sports are widely known throughout the halls of Pembroke High School, while the jv and freshman sports are under the radar and are underappreciated.
An example of the breach in the support is apparent at several of the sports games. In hockey, the jv games are usually played an hour before the varsity plays, yet nobody can be found in the rink other than the few parents spread out through the bleachers. However, as soon as the jv players finish undressing and step back out into the rink, the place is so crowded that it is difficult to get to the exit. And once you do manage to get to the exit, there are still people in line waiting to pay $5 for a ticket to the game.
Another example is the football teams and their fans. For jv games and freshman games, there are usually more players on the field than there are in the stands watching. But when the lights come on and varsity steps onto the field, the bleachers are overflowing with fans hoping that the Titans will pull through.
The only reasons that fans only attend the varsity games are that the players are older and the talent is better. Let’s face it, everybody knows the senior athletes Mike Daniels and Paul Chiampa, but only the freshman and a few others are going to know the Jack Bandera’s and Pat West’s of the school. Not to mention that everybody will know about Rocco DeVincient’s last-second goal but nobody will hear about Ryan Hennigan’s 3-run Home-run to win the jv a game in extra innings. Also, the talent level is far superior at varsity games than at jv games.
Despite that, I think that Pembroke students should show more of an interest in the sports played by the younger student-athletes. After all, they are the future of PHS.