The Hail Mary pass that scores the winning touchdown in the last twenty seconds of the game, the shot that glides the puck perfectly into the net and the stride that wins the 400-meter dash, all culminating in a WCHS athletic year like never before. These moments of athletic greatness are finally being rewarded. The scores have been tallied, and after all three seasons, WCHS has had the most Varsity wins between our rival schools: Bethesda-Chevy Chase (BCC), Walt Whitman, Thomas S. Wootton and Walter Johnson (WJ). Since WCHS had the most Varsity sports team wins out of all the schools, they have won the Legacy Cup for its first year in existence.
“I do not think there was one specific thing that made it successful, beyond our teams playing very well against these rival schools, especially our fall teams,” the Legacy Cup’s founder and WCHS Athletic Director Jesse Smith said. “WCHS athletes worked hard last year, and it definitely paid off.”
Although WCHS won the Legacy Cup, it was not a primary goal for the teams. Since the Legacy Cup is based on the culmination of scores across the fall, winter and spring seasons, many athletes just focus on each individual game. Focusing on each game worked for the Varsity football team last year because out of all the schools that compete against WCHS in the Legacy Cup, only BCC (8 wins and 4 losses) had a better record for its Varsity Football team than WCHS’ team (6 wins and 5 losses). One of the key reasons that the Varisty Football team wins so many games is because of all the school spirit that goes into the games.
“As a team, we do not focus on winning the Legacy Cup or the Congressional Cup, which is a football trophy, but we focus on winning each game and locking in for the season,” WCHS teacher and Varsity Football Coach Joe Rydzewski said. “We also appreciate the support we get from WCHS students and families every home game. This is what helps motivate us to play well and win games.”
Despite the win of the Legacy Cup, there is still little support for other varsity teams. This fall, the WCHS athletic department is trying to encourage WCHS students and families to attend other Varsity games by having a “Game of the Week”. The “Game of the Week” focuses on all different types of fall sports.
“These games are free to all of our Bulldog students as long as they wear Bulldog gear,” Smith said. The hope is this brings more students out to games they would not normally go to and see all the great things their classmates are doing in their sport[s].”
Despite the win of the Legacy Cup, one of the focuses this year for the WCHS athletic department is showing support for the other Varsity teams. The “Game of the Week” focuses on all different types of fall sports. The last four “Games of the Week” for this season include field hockey, girls’ soccer, flag football and boys’ soccer. The WCHS athletic department also tries to engage the WCHS student body by posting on Instagram and advertising the games on the school announcements.
“We are also beginning a new student passport competition this year,” Smith said. “Students will be able to get a passport to take to games and get a sticker for attending. At the end of each season, the student with the most games attended will receive a $100 gift card and lunch from the Booster Club. These passports can be picked up in the main office from Ms. Kim. In the end, we just want the students out at the games cheering on all the student athletes and celebrating their successes.”
For now, the goal is for WCHS athletes to continue to win games and for the other students to come out and support them. A consecutive Legacy Cup win definitely seems to be in sight based on this fall season, but there is a long way to go.
“While it is very early and just the fall season, we have started on a strong foot,” Smith said. “We have won the first 10 games against the other schools. I do believe we have some very good fall teams, but it is too early to know what our winter and spring teams will be like. [Though] I am extremely optimistic due to the start of the fall.”
