Schools

Football: North, Central Students Define 'Friendly Rivalry'

The game on the field might've been heated, but students from both schools proved that being fans doesn't make them enemies.

Conventional sports wisdom says the fans of district football rivals shouldn't like one another.

But conventional sports wisdom didn't attend or . 

In the band section before the game, North sophomore TJ Gaertig and Central freshman Sam Steagerman joked around with one another and chatted. The two met in all-star band and haven't let school ties split their friendship.

Find out what's happening in Frankfortwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Then there's Imani Simmons-Elloie, a North senior and de facto leader of the Gold Mine, the school's student cheering section. In between rooting for the Phoenix, she worked the stands, even "being a good host" and making a few students feel at home. For her, it's all about school spirit.

In fact, Simmons-Elloie's biggest cheer came when she spotted Central junior Taylor Schissler. The two have been best friends since attending eighth grade together at .

Find out what's happening in Frankfortwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"This is just a game. ... Everyone just puts their differences aside and comes out for the team," Simmons-Elloie said. "I've talked to people I don't normally talk to."

The most heart-felt display of interschool camaradarie, however, came from a group of North students who wanted to support their school and a good cause.

Juniors Kevin Martin, Joe Somerville, Lucas Jones and Rick Adams painted their faces and chests purple as a way to participate in Team Abby, a fundraiser to help the North baseball coach Joe Skarbek's daughter battle cancer. The teens said going to the game in body paint shows spirit, but that it's even better when it can help someone out.

"Why not do it?" Somerville said. "People are going to pay attention. We're raising awareness right now. Would you have talked to us if we just had the shirts on?"

Team Abby was started by North's cheerleading squad, said Lisa Tidwell, whose daughter is a cheerleader, and the team has been raising money to be split between the American Cancer Society and Abby's medical care. Tidwell, who was volunteering Friday night by selling purple Team Abby T-shirts, said the support has been overwhelming.

"The whole district has come together" she said. "(The students from North and Central) have been wonderful. ... We sold out of T-shirts, and people have just been coming up and donating money."

STILL WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE GAME? Check out Patch's Lincoln-Way Sports Fan group on Facebook.

Correction: This article originally stated Team Abby was an effort by Central students. It is an LW North effort.



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here