Sports rivalries can liven up school spirit, but to keep events respectful takes an energetic blend of the future, leadership and buy-in from the community, author Sean McCollum said. Orono High School sports teams have some big sports rivalries, the players on these teams take these rivalries very seriously.

“Mound is our biggest rival, we are very equal in skill level but unfortunately they ended our season last year. I enjoy playing against them because there are lots of personal grudges held between the girls,” girl’s hockey captain Megan Albers said.

The key to a good sports rivalry needs to have similarity among the competing teams, PhD in Psychology Art Markman said. According to Markman’s article “The Psychology of Sports Rivalries”, in order for a rivalry to be preserved, the schools need to play head to head regularly, and be matched to play each other in the coming, and past years.

“Delano last year beat us in the semi-finals of sections, so personally I have some hatred for them. But I feel as a whole the whole school has a little hatred for Delano, we have a big crowd whenever we play Delano,” boy’s basketball captain Noel Mshihiri said.

According to Dr Jerry Grillo Jr.’s article “Bragging Rights”,  “the close proximity of the schools that are our school’s biggest rivals makes for convenient intensity at sporting events. A certain amount of drama is shown when these school’s go head to head, bordering hatred, not to mention the history of fierce competition between the two schools.”

“Hopkins has been one of the toughest school’s on our section for a few years, we are very similar in skill level. The game always get very competitive know that the game could go either was,” volleyball captain Grace Reiners said.

“Frequency is the key ingredient. To sustain the rivalries, the head to head meeting is needed, playing at least once a season,” Markman said.

“Hutchinson knocked us off in sections last year, we have always been the best two teams in our conference. I enjoy this game more than the average game, because I love the rivalry,” girl’s basketball captain Tori Andrews said.

According to author Sean McCollum’s article “Out of Bounds”, sports rivalries represent sports at their most dramatic time. The history bring together communities, inspire the best in athletes and teams, the shared enthusiasm.

“The stands always get extra rowdy at these games, the atmosphere is great, you can tell we play different, there’s more tension between players when we play Delano,” Mshihiri said.

“The atmosphere in the stands is outrageous; chanting to try and psych out the other teams players, wearing school colors, or dressing up in weird themed clothing”, Markman said.

“It’s definitely hard to block out the fans, but they bring a lot of energy to the games, when they’re loud and cheering,” Reiners said.

Yet as crazy intense as the competition is, the dynamic of the match up is a game you can not miss.