A High School Football Rivalry Symbolized By One Letter
Posted
Jerad Shaw-
For nearly 30 years, two county rivals have played in a high school football game symbolized by one letter. That letter sits atop a traveling trophy that will be handed out Friday night following Warsaw and Wawasee’s tilt in Syracuse. Small plaques on the trophy show who had bragging rights in previous. No matter the records, the “W” game has always had a sense of importance in both towns and communities. At the beginning of the year, teams set goals. Some short term, and some long term. Rest assured, in both locker rooms, winning the “W” game is one of those goals. With that trophy comes a sense of pride and success for not only the team, but also a community that supports it. In the overall series between the schools, which began in 1969, the Tigers hold a record of 28-16-1 against the Warriors. The “W” trophy was donated by Robert and Patricia Reiff, who had five sons who played for the Warriors between 1971 and 1987. The first battle for the traveling “W” trophy was played in 1986, with Wawasee winning 14-7. The county rivals have battled for the trophy 28 times, with the Tigers holding a 17-11 advantage in the win column. After the Warriors held the trophy for three consecutive years, Warsaw won 14-13 last year. Here are what some people who have played in the game or who are closely involved in the game said about the importance of the contest. Roger Grossman, ESPN 102.7 “The W game is what’s fun about sports,” said Warsaw play by play radion broadcaster Roger Grossman. “It’s kids playing against their friends and kids they know well. It’s Wawasee parents working right next to Warsaw parents every day. And for one week they give extra on Friday so they can give everything to win this one game. Win this game and those winning kids and winning parents will know that for 364 days they were better on that one night. Being a part of this game is why I got into broadcasting.” Chris Parker, former Warsaw player “The "W" is an honored game and a game that the Tigers and Warriors take a lot of pride in. Being rivals in such a short proximity of distance between the two schools allows both teams to know a lot about each other even on a personal level. That game always was a hard-hitting, in-your-face NLC game.” Travis Boggs, former Warsaw player “It was so hard to swallow losing that trophy my senior year. We felt like we let so many people down who had helped to build the program back to where it was in 2002. I still remember sitting on the bus after the game and how empty it felt to not be bringing that big wooden trophy back to WCHS.” James O’Brien, former Warsaw player “The first thing that comes to mind when I think of the “W” trophy is pride. Which group of guys is going to take more pride in representing their parents, their teachers, their neighbors, their teammates? That is what this game is about.” For one time each season, both of these great towns get to lose themselves inside a high school football game. Whether you find yourself in the heat of battle, or in the stands, everyone seems to give a little bit more on this special night. And why not? We don’t get enough of these opportunities anymore. Win or lose, to be a part of something this special is a prize all in itself. Of course, it’s also nice having bragging rights in your part of the county.
