As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s time for all of the Thanksgiving Week traditions to start taking place. This weekend, one of the biggest traditions will take place in the form of the powderpuff football games, with Lynn Classical and Lynn English headlining the weekend.
The cross-town rivals play every year and lately it’s been Classical that’s gotten the upper hand, winning the past two years.
“We’ve taken two in a row and we feel really good about this team,” said Classical coach Rob Smith, who is now in his ninth year coaching the Rams powderpuff team. “We’ve got a great offensive team and a great defensive team this year, and we’re led by some great coordinators.”
Those coordinators, Harold Watler on offense and Louis Reynolds on defense, are both Classical graduates, as is Smith.
As for the team, this year’s Rams will be led at quarterback by senior Paris Wilkey, who recently signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Franklin Pierce University. Fellow basketball player Jeylly Medrano and softball star Tori Adams are also on this year’s Classical squad.
“We’ve got some great players this year, and they’ve all been working hard,” said Smith.
On the other side, English coach PJ Holey and his staff of coaches (Cara Crowley, Shannon Calnan, Ashley Aldred and Sam Talzinski) have been working just as hard.
“The girls have been very committed from the start, and we were out there working in the cold and rain all week,” Holey said. “It’s been a few years now since we’ve won, and this year’s team really wants to take this one.”
This year’s Bulldogs team will feature a host of great athletes from English, including three-sport star Tommi Hill who plays soccer, basketball and softball. Hill recently wrapped up a stellar senior season in net as the goalie of the girls soccer team.
But while winning is certainly on everyone’s mind, just taking part in this Thanksgiving tradition is enough.
“This is probably the best time I have coaching every year,” Smith said. “Not only is it great to be a part of the tradition, but the girls always take it serious and work really hard. It’s just a great feeling to be a part of it.”
“I’m excited as always just being a part of this great tradition,” said Holey, who has been the coach for 10 years now. “Obviously you want to win, but being a part of not just the powderpuff game, but the Thanksgiving tradition, is a lot of fun.”
English and Classical will duke it out at noon on Sunday at Manning Field.
Over in Swampscott, the Joe Tenney-led Big Blue will take on Jacqui Bouchard’s Marblehead team at Blocksidge Field on Saturday. With players like Julianna Rhodes, Julia Rapisarda, Anna Cilley and Riley Lord on offense and the likes of Lily Sanphy, Ocean Crawley-Sweeney and Gina Hollenbach on defense, the Big Blue hope to take this year’s game.
“All week, the girls have been incredibly enthusiastic about the game,” said Tenney, who is now in his 12th year as coach. “If they could scrimmage all day every day, trust me they would.”
Swampscott and Marblehead will face off at 10 a.m. on Saturday.