On an afternoon when the stands would often be only scattered with parents and a few students, the Nicholas Athletic Center was instead packed with Middle School (MS) and Upper School (US) students cheering shoulder to shoulder. The reason? The second annual Winter Athletics Carnival.
The carnival began on Feb. 6 with two MS basketball games. Boys’ Varsity Hockey (BVH) then beat Northfield Mount Hermon School 7-2, Boys’ Varsity Basketball (BVBB) topped Groton 79-46 and Girls’ Varsity Hockey (GVH) closed out the evening, defeating Milton 3-1.
Angus McKenna ’27 observed a difference in turnout compared to an average game.
“There were more people there at the carnival than at a normal game,” he said. “I noticed a good amount of Middle School students there, and I was somewhat surprised by how late they stayed.”
Meredith Richardson ’27 watched the BVH game.
“Our widening of the early lead was pretty exciting,” she said. “The atmosphere was more energetic than that of a regular game, especially because we were winning. The size of the crowd was larger than a standard Friday night game.”
GVH forward Mary Murray ’27 watched other teams for a change.
“I had never seen some teams play before the carnival, but now, after watching them, I can appreciate their play,” she said. “Events like these allow the spectators to witness the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.”
Mary said the increased attendance helped GVH’s performance.
“The environment definitely felt different than usual,” she said. “It was amazing to look around and see so many people there supporting us. The carnival helped with team morale because we were more motivated to play harder. Having all those fans made us come together and play even better.”
The presence of younger students in the stands added meaning.
“Seeing younger students and fans watch me play made me feel proud to wear the BB&N jersey,” Mary said. “I felt inspired to set a good example for how to become a good player and teammate. When I was at the Middle School and I saw the girls practice around the rink, they were like celebrities. Being on the team now is a full-circle moment.”
For MS BVBB player Oliver Schneider ’30, the day felt like a preview of what lies ahead.
“There was definitely a lot of school spirit, which you don’t see as much of at the Middle School,” he said. “I love playing with the BVBB team. Those are my guys. They’re great role models to show me what a good student-athlete looks like. The carnival got me excited for my future sports career at BB&N, seeing how many people showed up to support other students.”
