“HOTA… HOTA… HOTA…” chanted the Franklin Square, Floral Park, and Garden City girls from the HOTA soccer club as they marched in the spirited German-American Stueben Parade on Saturday, Sept. 15 in New York City.
Staged as the 7th division in the parade line, a little waiting on 58th Street didn’t put a damper on the girls’ spirits. They used up the time to build camaraderie by sharing city pretzels, buying German flags, and stocking up on other fun trinkets from street vendors. HOTA Lightning Coach Greg Shevlin said, “There’s a feeling of community among the girls – it’s a great way to honor HOTA’s heritage and build solidarity.”
Once the girls started marching, their shouting amplified and the onlookers became super-cheery. The highlight for the girls was being televised on WNEW. There were lots of funny faces, bright smiles, and HOTA mantras as they paraded past the cameras.
The girls’ finale was on 86th Street and Madison, a.k.a. Germantown, where two of the girls’ parents ran into and chatted with Paul McCartney – not a famed German, but an amusing wrap to the day.
HOTA Bavarian Soccer Club is an international organization focused on developing, enhancing, and promoting the skills and abilities of talented young soccer players.
