Kylie Burke '27

At Chapelle High School, athletics are a big deal. With the loud crowds, intense rivalries, and long-standing traditions, the Chipmunks play hard to win, driven by pride and a strong determination. But these teams aren’t just there to play a game, beyond the scoreboard, these girls are making memories and creating bonds. These connections form the sisterhood that defines the Chapelle, and a legacy that continues long after the final whistle blows. Between volleyball, softball, and swim, each team has their own unique traditions that they follow through each year whether that be as a team or individually.

Outside of Chapelle’s athletic teams, these traditions may be hard to see, but within them, there is a special set of traditions, passed down, that are key to their identity. Chapelle’s volleyball team plays a big role in tradition within the team and the school as a whole. Every year during the month of October, the Volley Chips host a game in the gymnasium called Pink Game. This is the largest student body attended game throughout all of Chapelle's athletics and it starts right after the bell rings to get out. In the courtyard, a tailgate is held where you can get dressed up in pink, eat food, and get hyped up for the game. During the game, the Volley Chips wear a special pink uniform and throw stuff to the crowd in breaks. Another traditional event that the volleyball team does is the varsity hype video. At the beginning of every game, a hype video appears on the big screen to showcase the varsity players. This allows students to hype up the players when they come on screen, and it starts the night off with unifying excitement. Lastly, for the Volley Chips, the girls play in a tournament called the Spooktacular tournament every year. Kendall Allen, a junior, stated, “One of our favorite tournaments is the Spooktacular tournament, which takes place during Halloween, and we dress up as a team.  The costumes are judged! Last year, we won the costume contest. We were Grimace, our libero was a happy meal, the coaches were Hamburglar and Ronald McDonald, and all the parents were different sauces.” This tournament allows players to collaborate on creating a costume and add a bit of flair to the court.

They aren’t the only team that knows how to keep a tradition going. The softball team knows how to show spirit in their traditions. As a team, they have several unique softball traditions to collect team spirit and unity. Before each game, they warm up and then loudly high-five each player lined up at the third base line before gathering for a group prayer. During the game, they sing personalized chants for each batter, and a player who hits a home run is celebrated with a special chain and everyone surrounding home plate. After every game, win or lose, they come together to pray with their coaches and sing the Alma Mater. Wearing a special blue bracelet from her grandmother for luck, Mia Impastato, a junior on the softball team, shares a personal game-day routine. "Every inning when I run out to the field," she says, "I always touch 3rd base and pick up the pitcher's ball before she comes out as a way to give her words of encouragement." This gesture, combined with her special charm, highlights a tradition of both personal faith and team support. 

Lastly, the same Chipmunk pride that echoes across the softball field can also be found poolside, where the swim team has established its own set of traditions. The swim team has its own set of rituals and traditions that are important to its identity and team spirit. Before each competition, they follow a specific routine, which includes a team prayer led by their captain. These Swimmer Chips also have a superstition called “sling-shots,” where Brianna Borne explains that they “pull the back of another swimsuit and let it fall against their back. We believe this helps us perform better before a race and brings us good luck.” The swimmers also spend time together outside of practice and competitions, engaging in a “sweet treat” that allows them to socially bond outside of the water. The season typically concludes with a state-level meet where eligible swimmers compete to the best of their abilities.



This is not all, though; Chapelle athletics hosts a special event called Senior Night, where they spotlight the seniors on the team after a specific game for that sport. Their families come out, and their teammates get them a gift while they walk along the field, court, or poolside. The sports teams at Chapelle High School do more than just play games; they carry on special traditions that create a strong feeling of teamwork. The volleyball team has its Pink Game and funny team costumes, while the softball team does specific pre-game cheers and has special rituals. Even the swim team has its own routines, like good-luck actions and fun team get-togethers. These traditions bring the athletes closer together and help them build friendships that will last a long time, highlighting the importance of these rituals to the spirit of Chapelle.