It was a glorious vision of respect and sportsmanship at the recent Massapequa vs. Farmingdale playoff football game.
The Massapequa Chiefs Cheerleading team asked their coach Jennifer Rabie if they could watch the halftime show from the Farmingdale side with their cheerleaders. The request was certainly something to cheer about as the gesture softened the rivalry that has stood between the two teams for years.
“It was amazing,” Rabie said. “Both teams welcomed each other with open arms. Halftime was spent sharing a bag of candy, something the Farmingdale coach always provides at games; laughing, taking photos and making memories. It was a moment of great pride and showed that we can come together with respect for one another and have a great time.”
The Farmingdale crowd responded with a memorable round of applause and congratulatory statements to the Chiefs for breaking the ice and building a positive relationship. Parents documented the milestone by snapping pictures of the two squads’ time together.
The rivalry has been a source of grave concern for both school districts and comes with a long history of intense outbreaks that potentially put fans in harm’s way at both football and basketball games. Both districts have worked closely together for the past several years to keep fans in check by limiting spectators to high school students, the athletes’ family members and alumni, a move that came with some backlash but was ultimately deemed necessary to safeguard the crowd. As a result of their hard work, there have been no reported incidents this year.
Massapequa Schools Superintendent Lucille F. Iconis expressed how proud she was of Rabie for facilitating this moment.
“What a great first step in establishing a positive relationship between the two schools,” she said.
Rabie adds, “the varsity cheerleaders definitely have laid the foundation for a more positive relationship with our rival school.”
—Submitted by the Massapequa Public School District
