They walk around school with jerseys on, braids and ponytails on every girl’s head, guys with their bomber jackets and ready-to-win smiles. Whether it is soccer, lacrosse, basketball, football or any of the other 18 teams, everyone knows when it is a Miami Palmetto Senior High game day. As the minutes tick down and the game nears, the coaches bring in the team huddle. Spirits and energies are high; this is when one can truly peer into a team’s chemistry and the pre-game culture.
Every team has its approach to good luck and motivation, helping teammates keep their heads held high against any competitor. For example, MPSH Varsity Girls’ Soccer has a few pre-game traditions to keep up the energy and get everyone in the positive gameday mindset.
“What gets me most excited about game day is getting ready for the game, not just the game itself, but the rituals like braiding hair or going to the bathroom in groups, it’s just fun to bond with the team…,” Girls Soccer Captain and junior Lexi Herskowitz said. “…We always say ‘Palmetto’ on 3, 2, 1… ‘Palmetto’ And then we also do a breathing exercise where we inhale for three seconds and then exhale, and we’ll do that again, and after one more we break.”
Through traditions and rituals like these, teams can bond and foster a sense of community both on and off the field, something that has positive impacts on the team’s dynamic and performance.
“It’s because we are a brotherhood, we’ve got each other’s backs… last year we didn’t really have that, which was probably why we weren’t that good, but it’s happening this year… we’re locked in,” Varsity Football player and junior Patrick Lawrence said.
MPSH’s football team has seen a complete turnover in wins compared to years past. Lawrence recounts this year’s game against Homestead, where the events leading up to the game united the team and put them on top.
“It was our first game of the regular season and we just lost to Homestead last year so it was personal…” Lawrence said. “Before the game coach Manasco gave us a little pep talk and had us focus, playing at Harris field [their home field] had us yelling and singing to music that was playing on the speaker…it was really hype.”
On the topic of brotherhood bonds building up a better team, Palmetto’s famous ‘DOG CHECK!’ can be heard on the field of any MPSH boy’s lacrosse game. This past season boys lacrosse has seen a complete turnaround in wins against previous dominators on the field such as Westminster, Ransom Everglades and Miami Country Day. With new coaches, Jacob Cropley and Nicolas Quintarios, the boys have been led through victories as well as found family on the field.
Coach Cropley describes his pre-game discussions as a key way to get the boys’ head in the game, always coming from the heart to get the blood pumping and the team excited to take a win.
“…They need to bring all they have to each game and not give the other team a single inch of breathing room…play fast and play smart,” Cropley said. “Lastly, I bring in the fact that the team is a brotherhood; when we show up, we don’t only show up for the “Panther” but each other as one.”
When the whistle blows and the game begins, coaches can do nothing but observe and guide the team from the outside until they call for a pause, the quarter ends or halftime talks finally arrive. Cropley reiterates that once the referee starts the clock, the course of the game could go either way, whether it is a win or loss, he utilizes halftimes and breaks to regroup the team.
“If we are winning I usually talk to the defense or the goalies and let them know what we need to keep doing to keep the lead and any minor mistakes we may have made,” Cropley said. “However, if we’re losing, and I know we shouldn’t be, it’s the most intense I get… they need to bring it all and leave it out on the field.”
Cropley recounts a memorable game against Westminster, with their team established around 2015 and Palmetto’s being one of Florida’s original four teams, their proximity and skilled players have made their matches into one of the team’s biggest rivalries.
“We were down 3-7 at halftime and the game wasn’t looking good for us… the speech I gave at halftime challenged the team the most last year because I knew we were a superior team. At the start of the third quarter, you could tell that our energy had changed and by the fourth, it was a back-and-forth game…in the end, we won 12-10,” Cropley said
Game day is filled with old-time traditions, reminiscing on a season-long bond and an occasional lecture from the coach, whether the team wins or loses on-field lessons and skills gained are invaluable.
“…There’s no pressure, just go play your hearts out!” Herskowitz said.
