Around our community, fall’s Friday nights are reserved for high school football. Whether we are cheering for one side of town or the other, West Chester and Liberty Township fans get behind our high school teams one hundred and ten percent. Long before kickoff, the celebration begins in the high school parking lots, where the Lakota East and Lakota West tailgate parties are a big win for everyone.
Although game time isn’t until 7 p.m., Athletic Booster volunteers and parents to a football player, Jason Bonk and Arin Singer-Bonk are dressed in spirit wear and in the Lakota West High School parking lot before 5 p.m. at each home game.
When their football player son was a freshman, the proud parents bought a reserved parking spot as a part of an Athletic Boosters’ fundraiser. The reserved parking spots are adjacent to the tailgate area, where fans put up canopies, games and tables of food.
The Bonks were quickly welcomed into the fun.
“One of the junior moms invited us in and introduced us to the bigger group,” Arin says. “We met so many nice people. When your kid’s in a sport, you're going to be spending a lot of time together in the stands and getting ready for the games. Tailgating is a nice way to get to know other people and hang out for ten weeks.”
Now, as junior parents, Arin helps set up the eats and treats while Jason is a part of the Athletic Boosters parking team. He assists another junior parent, Greg Skelton and works with two seasoned senior parent volunteers, Ron Beerman and Dave Gray with getting cars in position each Friday. Funds raised from the reserved tailgate parking spots go directly to the football program.
It’s not just football families—the whole community is involved. Other West teams and their families join the pregame party, too. There’s even a DJ, spinning tunes.
“Tailgating is a great community event. It brings people together and creates a lot of new friendships, as well as a lot of school spirit,” Jason shares. “I really want to encourage more of the freshmen and sophomore parents to jump in and get involved, because it's just a lot of fun.”
On the other side of town, Steve and Tricia Chaney are parking their mammoth fifth wheel camper in the VIP corner of the East parking lot right after school gets out. As Lakota alumni and parents to a Lakota East freshman football player, they’re hosting the tailgate party for the East Athletic Boosters this season. Like the Bonks, the Chaney’s were invited in by senior football parents, continuing a long tradition of Athletic Booster involvement on game nights.
Long before the Thunderhawks take the field, the parking lot fills with excited fans, all headed toward the music that streams from the RV, and all with a dish to share. The tailgate snacks do not disappoint.
“We’ve got pulled pork sliders, Skyline dip, sausage dip, pasta salad, meatballs and cheesy bread,” Tricia says, with a wide and welcoming gesture to the spread. “Fill a plate!”
Our local Friday night lights are less about winning and losing, and more about being together, teamwork, community support and cheering on our kids.
“At the end of the day, we just want to bring pride to the East program,” says Steve. “Getting together with everybody and experiencing the community is what it’s all about.”
“Having that strong connection and seeing the teams and families build a camaraderie is why we’re here,” adds Tricia.
Join the tailgate parties on either side of town in your spirit wear on fall Fridays. Check the game schedules online. And come hungry. GoWestFirebirds.com, GoHawksGo.com