Pre-Thanksgiving Football Luncheon: When rivalry meets partnership

By EVA HANEGRAAFF

PEABODY — The rivalry between Lynnfield and North Reading has existed for as long as residents of either town can remember. As fans gear up for the big Thanksgiving Day football matchup, the teams themselves find a uniquely collaborative way to honor the 65th anniversary of this competitive tradition.

Both the Lynnfield and North Reading football teams met last Thursday, November 21, at the Salem Country Club in Peabody as guests at the annual Football Luncheon, sponsored by Lynnfield Rotary and North Reading High School.  Joining the two teams were both schools’ cheer captains and marching band drum majors, North Reading color guard captains, the Interact Clubs of both North Reading High School and Lynnfield High School along with the athletic directors and administrators of both schools.

The event began with the Lynnfield Rotary Service Project organizer, Christine Travers, leading the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Rotary Four-Way Test.  This test is an important part of Rotary as it provides a reflection on one’s thoughts, words, and actions.  The test reads: First, is it the truth?  Second, is it fair to all concerned?  Third, will it build goodwill and better friendships?  Fourth, will it be beneficial to all concerned? This test is applied to all Rotary actions and is the basis for which they make decisions.

Next, Jaimie Booth, Lynnfield Rotary’s Public Image Manager, encouraged the audience to slow down and reflect, and then led the group through an optional prayer, blessing the food as well as the health and prosperity of everyone present.  The first course of a garden salad was then served, marking a break between speeches.

Before the second course, Rob Dolan, the Lynnfield Rotary President and Town Administrator, emphasized tradition and its importance as it relates to the luncheon itself. He then transitioned to discussing Rotary’s motto, “service above self.” 

“There’s no task or effort too large or too small to be a Rotary practice,” Dolan advised. He discussed the history and accomplishments of Rotary locally and around the world. He then transitioned to discuss the tradition of a Thanksgiving Day football game, speaking to the present football captains in saying, “for many of you, this will be the last time you participate in football,”  adding, “you can’t play old man football.”  He expanded upon the bittersweet truth about what the event celebrates. “You can play softball, and don’t guys play hockey? But football is one of those things that ends.”

While Dolan acknowledged the importance of this game for the players, he also made sure to acknowledge the successes of the cheer and band seasons as well. “Whether you are putting on your band uniform, the cheerleading outfit, or your high school football helmet for the last time, it’s a unique tradition that only you will experience, and you will always think on it.”

Dolan then ended his speech by urging the students to “enjoy it, enjoy the moments, enjoy this.” He offered his gratitude to the event’s organizers and congratulated all of the Lynnfield sports teams on their respective successes.

Dolan then presented the Paul Harris Award, considered by Rotarians to be its version of the “Congressional Medal of Honor.” He prefaced this importance of this award by explaining that “the Paul Harris Award is given to very few individuals for exemplary efforts to the club and their service to their community that oftentimes is above their own interests.” He presented this award to Ernie Walker, a long time Rotarian, who was one of the main advocates for the building of Lynnfield’s new middle school and investing in revitalizing Lynnfield High School.

Walker then spoke, discussing the project he was a part of to help the two Lynnfield schools. “We went through a long period of time where this project was not recognized,” Walker said. He thanked everyone involved in making possible all he was able to accomplish for the benefit of the Lynnfield schools.

Dolan then offered his final statement to the students saying, “The moral of the story is, when you become successful in your future lives, remember where you came from and remember your community, and think about being a part of Rotary.”

Following the presentation, attendees enjoyed the main course of turkey and gravy served with stuffing, mashed potatoes, cooked sliced carrots, and toast points topped with cranberry sauce. Raffi Toby, senior drum major from North Reading, referred to this dish as “a slice of Thanksgiving.”  For dessert attendees were served apple pie with a side of whipped cream.

The North Reading football team was the first group invited to speak after the food was served. Coach Edward Blum noted the accomplishments of the various North Reading groups present, the band, color guard, and cheer team, in their impressive victories and seasons. He also acknowledged the Interact Club’s accomplishments this year.

Blum moved on to thank the administrators present for their help in ensuring a successful season through their constant support.  He then acknowledged the pending retirements of Dave Johnson, North Reading High School’s Athletic Director, and Anthony Loprete, North Reading High School’s principal, thanking them both for all they have contributed to the school.

He ended his speech by recognizing the football captains of North Reading. Speaking directly to the captains, Blum said, “I’m incredibly proud of the three young men that you have grown into over those four years.” He described their accomplishments across different positions on the field and their contributions to the school community in the hallways and in other extracurriculars. He added, “It has been an incredible privilege to be your coach.”

Blum ended his speech by discussing the values of Rotary and encouraged the students present to take these values to heart and implement them into their lives, wherever life takes them. He then turned over the mic to Hornet Captain James Fodera who thanked the organizers on behalf of the team and shared their gratitude for being given the opportunity to attend this event. He congratulated the Pioneers and ended his remarks by saying, “we look forward to capping our careers off playing a really tough team!”

Next, Lynnfield Coach Patrick Lamusta spoke. He expressed his appreciation for the event as it was the eighth time he has attended; seven as a coach and one as a player in 2008. He expressed the importance of using the event as an opportunity to reflect by saying, “I hope everyone thinks about community today and thinks about family.”

Lamusta thanked the Lynnfield cheer team and the band for their support of the football team. He also thanked Shlok Kudrimoti, Lynnfield High School’s band drum major, for his photography of the Pioneer team at games. He thanked the Interact Club for all their work bettering the Lynnfield community. He also acknowledged the Healthy Lynnfield initiative and all this organization does for improving the community.

The Pioneers’ coach then went on to describe the team itself and specifically, the senior class. “When they first came on as freshmen, they were a wild bunch, but very good at football,” he recalled.  He added, “What was super special over the next four years was their maturity level.” He then went into the accomplishments and impact of each captain individually.

After Lynnfield’s tough loss in the postseason D6 quarterfinals to Fairhaven, 36-34, Lamusta emphasized reflection. “You have to go back to what holds you together,” he advised. For him, he identified family, calling the football team its own kind of family. “It’s a brotherhood,” Lamusta stated. He ended his remarks by wishing good luck to both teams, as well as good luck to Loprete and Johnson on their retirements.

Lynnfield football Captain Iain McCarthy spoke on behalf of his team. “A few words that come to mind when we think of this game are ‘tradition,’ ‘rivalry,’ and ‘history.’ For me, it’s ‘privilege.’” He described his gratitude for having the ability to participate in this luncheon and the opportunity to compete in the Thanksgiving Day game.

Dolan then invited up the North Reading band and cheer team, acknowledging that, at both schools, these teams contend with “a season within a season” as they also have their own competitions as well as the football games at which that they perform.

Ben Owens, the North Reading band director was the first to speak, acknowledging Eric Blackman, Lynnfield’s new band director, and his and the band’s first year attending the event. Owens thanked Blum for his cooperation and understanding, saying, “there’s a great mutual respect between the football program and the band program, and that’s rare in a lot of places.”

Owens moved on to the successes of the North Reading band program. “We were the most successful this season than we’ve been in my seven years,” he said, specifically thanking the drum majors and the color guard captains at NRHS for their leadership, which he believes made the band’s accomplishments possible.

Raffi Toby, senior drum major then thanked the organizers of the event and congratulated all the teams present. “It’s my second year here now but every year the Thanksgiving game is always one of my favorite memories,” expounding that “it is a really good example of community coming together; two rival schools with a competitive nature, but also a lot of respect for each other.”

Katie Roy, cheer coach at North Reading High School, was next to speak. She described her experience coming to the event as an athlete in high school and now as a coach for the past 15 years. She described the event itself as one that is steeped in “a lot of history and rivalry, but I think in the best way.” She emphasized her hope that the students attending the event take from it an understanding of community that transcends just the wins and the losses of the season.

North Reading cheer captain Addy Hajj was next to speak. She congratulated the football team on their successful season, wishing both teams good luck on the upcoming Thanksgiving game, saying, “it’s one of my favorite games all season.”

The Lynnfield band and cheer teams were next to be invited up. Blackman recalled, “From the moment I interviewed at Lynnfield, I just felt such support and love and when I met the kids. I just felt so embraced,” he said. He described his hope to rebuild the band program in Lynnfield and expressed his gratitude for being invited to this event.

Drum major Shlok Kudrimoti then congratulated both football teams, as well as the North Reading band on their respective seasons. He gave special thanks to the Lynnfield football team in welcoming him on the sidelines to take photos of their games.

Lynnfield head cheer coach Tiffany Petruzella offered her congratulations the Lynnfield football team on their successful season. “It’s one of the best seasons Lynnfield has had,” she said. Bella Giannasca, a Lynnfield cheer captain, spoke next, describing their season and appreciation of being able to cheer for the football team and wished good luck to the North Reading cheer team at states.

The two Interact Clubs followed. North Reading Interact Club advisor Andrew Falanga expressed his appreciation for the tradition of this luncheon and for the Interact Club to be included into this tradition. He thanked the Lynnfield Rotary Club for hosting the event and discussed how he hopes to use Interact to serve the North Reading community in a similar way. He ended by wishing both football teams good luck in their Thanksgiving day game.

Lynnfield High School’s Interact advisor Julia Seavey expressed her gratitude for being included in the event and passed the microphone over to Lynnfield Interact Club President Morgan Hubbard who described Lynnfield Interact’s projects this year. She identified the Lynnfield Turkey Trot as one such upcoming event and encouraged all Lynnfield residents to sign up and participate.

At the conclusion of the event the participants left with a renewed sense of purpose toward the pursuits that inspire them and the importance of their unique contributions within their communities. Both football teams were committed to continue practicing hard for their final football game on Thanksgiving Day, November 28. Since both teams have identical overall records of 8-2, the 65th renewal of their rivalry is a competitive and much anticipated matchup. 

Kick-off is 10:30 a.m. at North Reading High School’s Arthur J. Kenney Field.