By Jack Safir ’19
Ninth graders have been playing football at break on Tuesdays and Thursdays as part of The Harvard-Westlake Football League, dubbed the HWFL. The league, a middle school tradition for a few years, is a ninth grade exclusive two-hand touch football league, with four teams and seven players on each team.
“The HWFL started with Kevin [Chen] ‘19 coming up with the idea to do what the ninth graders did last year, but make it better. So he became the commissioner because he couldn’t play, due to his injury. Kevin created the schedule,” 2 Star Recruits linebacker Alex Russell ‘19 said.
Once the idea for the league was created, four team captains were elected, and a draft took place. The teams in the HWFL are the “By the Wooders” dressed in white, “Sauce Squad” dressed in red, “Two Star Recruits,” dressed in Blue and the “Money Ballers,” dressed black.
“I’d say that I’m the captain for my team, but the captains were really only used for the draft. Once the season began, the whole team started leading together,” Sauce Squad quarterback Jake Grode ‘19 said.
Each team also has their own cheerleaders. Female students were drafted by the members of HWFL to support the teams.
“The HWFL is a lot of fun because the excitement of the games are great, and I get to cheer with my friends,” 2 Star Recruits cheerleader Maija Wainwright ‘19 said.
The games have taken a brief break but will resume after retreat.