Rivalries are defined by tradition, spite, and intensity. Matchups between rivalry teams are heated competitions and a battle for superiority.
It has been six years since the inception of Green Level. Rivalries, especially amongst the two schools less than six miles away from Green Level, Green Hope and Panther Creek, have already seen their fair share of heated matchups and spite for each other.
Both rivalries between Green Hope and Panther Creek were already precedent, even before Green Level welcomed students into its halls. Karen Summers, Green Level’s principal, was originally at Green Hope. When Summers made the move to become Green Level’s first principal, many staff and teachers also jumped the ship.
One of these staff members is Green Level’s athletic director, and the former athletic director at Green Hope, Colin Fegeley.
“That kind of created a bit of a rivalry from the beginning, not just in athletics, just in general school to school,” Fegeley said, referring to the rivalry with Green Hope.
Fegeley also highlighted other factors that play a role in the opposition between the Gators and the Falcons.
“They’re also the school closest to us geographically and we share a color in our name,” Fegeley said.
Senior and member of the volleyball team Reese Roper also illustrated the intensity the rivalry with Green Hope has.
“There is always such a high anticipation for games against them,” Roper said, “our volleyball games against Green Hope are so fun to play in, and our student section always goes above and beyond when we play them.”
Green Hope certainly has a big rivalry with the Gators in volleyball and there is also a lot of intensity between both schools in general; however, Green Hope isn’t the only heated rivalry the Gators have.
“I think Green Hope is probably our biggest rival across the board, but you can’t discount our rivalry with Panther Creek,” Fegeley says. “In several sports, I would say Panther Creek is actually more of a rival than Green Hope.”
This is where the debate comes into play. Along with Green Hope, Panther Creek has also been a fierce rival of the Gators, especially when it comes to basketball.
“Panther Creek has pretty strong programs across the board. I think they’re a big rival as well, especially in basketball they’re usually our biggest competition,” Fegeley said.
In just six years, Green Level has already established intense rivalries. The volleyball matchups with the Falcons and the basketball games against the Catamounts are arguably the biggest events each year in the “The Swamp.” However, the rivalries extend off the playing surface as well. The similarities, spite, and traditions between the schools make Green Hope and Panther Creek infamous and despised on Green Level’s campus.
