Schools

Student Council Brings Powderpuff Football Tradition Back to Medfield High School

Medfield High School's powderpuff football game between the MHS juniors and seniors will be held Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. on the MHS turf.

The girls in the junior and senior classes at are ready for some football … powderpuff football, that is.

The Medfield High School Student Council came up with the idea to bring back the school's powderpuff football tradition with a game on Nov. 22 as a way for the school and town communities to come together.

“The purpose of the event is to provide a great event for the junior and senior girls to participate in and for students and families to come and enjoy,” said Rose Sievewright, a junior at MHS and student council member. Sievewright, along with junior Katie Nickerson, are the co-chairs of the event.

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“The event will be a nice way to start off Thanksgiving break and generate spirit at MHS,” she said.

Powderpuff football, which is essentially a flag football game amongst girls, has existed in the United States since 1945, but had not been played at Medfield High School for years. Medfield's student council got close to bringing the event back to MHS in 2009, but it was cancelled by snow.

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This being the first powderpuff football game in quiet some time at MHS came as a surprise to Sievewright.

“I was definitely surprised the school hadn't hosted a powderpuff game [for awhile],” Sievewright said. “Powderpuff is a big tradition in many surrounding towns and around the country. The event has certainly been well received though in Medfield this year.”

Over 100 girls from the junior and senior classes registered for the game and as is tradition, several Medfield High School football players have volunteered to serve as coaches.

“I think so many girls have signed up for the game because it is a great opportunity to get together with the girls of their grade and have a fun night,” Sievewright said. “It's something new for all the girls and to participate with all their friends.”

The senior girls’ team will be coached by MHS football seniors and captains, Alex Opiela and Ife Adebayo. The juniors will be led by MHS football players Arthur D'Angelo, Aaron Cohen, Paul Adams, and Jack Papadinoff. Sievewright said Chris Fennell, a senior and Joe Marie, a junior, will announce the game.

Sievewright and Nickerson took the idea from student council and turned it into a reality through planning and organization.

“Katie and I brainstormed ideas for the event,” Sievewright said. “Then we talked with Rob Zapulla, the council president, and Jess Safer, the council advisor. The event was approved by Melinda Lohan, the assistant athletic director. Also, building use for the turf was approved by Town Hall, [MHS principal] Robert Parga, and [Superintendent of Schools] Robert Maguire.”

The goal of the event is to raise money for student council and collect donations for the student council's annual can drive in the spirit of Thanksgiving that will benefit the Medfield Food Cupboard.

“Student council representatives will be helping out that night and collecting cans for the Medfield Food Cupboard,” Sievewright said. “ has been a great help with ordering all the shirts and hopefully the Alumni Association will be doing a raffle during the game.”

And speaking of the game, Sievewright said both the junior and senior teams have had one practice with the hope of one more before Tuesday’s battle on the girdiron. She said of everything she has been involved with in preparing this event, she’s looking most forward to the game.

“It will be great to see the junior and senior girls competing against each other and just having a good time,” Sievewright said. “Katie and I will both play for the junior team once we have everything in place and organized on the night."

Admission to the game is $3 and the student council will be running a concession stand. Game-time is 6 p.m. at Calvin George Fisher Memorial Field on Nov. 22. All are encouraged to come and show their Medfield High School and town spirit.

“People of all ages are invited and we hope the game will become a tradition in Medfield,” Sievewright said.


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