A look into Aragon’s past athletic traditions

Aragon has a rich history of athletic traditions. More well-known traditions include senior nights at the end of seasons, homecoming games, rallies and basketball quad games. But there is also a history of traditions that are often untalked about because they no longer exist, such as competing in powder puff football games and stealing pumpkins from Half Moon Bay.

Before the eight-lane all-weather track was constructed in 2002, Aragon had a dirt track. At the time, they drove floats around the track during football games.

“Each class would pick a theme and decorate their float and drive around the track at around halftime of the game,” said Athletic Director Steve Sell. “They put the floats on … a big flat bed truck.”
Many of Aragon’s traditions are centered around rivalries with other high schools. One of these was a prank that occurred when the Dons played against Half Moon Bay High School.

“In the late ’70s, … every pre-season we played Half Moon Bay in football and what the players would do the night before the game was drive over to Half Moon Bay and take a bunch of pumpkins from the pumpkin patches and set them out on the center court lawn, and they spelled out Dons No. 1,” Sell said. “It was a tradition that was kind of fun, but the Half Moon Bay police told them that it wasn’t really legal and that it was theft.”

Powder puff was a fundraiser football game that was played exclusively by girls at Aragon. Junior Varsity Cheer Coach Brianna Rosselli and a group of girls organized the powder puff game with the help of several mothers and former Aragon football coach Steve Henderson.

“[My senior year] we started the powder puff game for breast cancer awareness. We were able to play a game and we did cheerleaders versus any students that wanted to participate,” Rosselli said. “The football players were coaches for the powder puff game, and we all donated like shirts. I think … we raised around a thousand dollars which we donated to breast cancer awareness.”

“We started the powder puff game for breast cancer awareness, donating to breast cancer”

When Rosselli was an Aragon cheerleader, there was a tradition where cheerleaders would be paired up with a football or basketball player. It helped team members build stronger bonds and created a welcoming environment.

“The cheerleaders would make posters for the football players or bring them a favorite snack or favorite drink,” Rosselli said. “It helped the cheerleaders and the football players kind of get to know each other, just encouraging more spirit. … Everyone got a poster and everyone felt encouraged.”

Over the years, traditions like these have adapted to the changing times. Cheerleaders at Aragon continue to create posters for football players, but are no longer specifically paired.
The Aragon versus Hillsdale rivalry also helps fuel school spirit and energize students. It creates anticipation and excitement leading up to the game night.

“I remember when I was a kid in sixth grade, [in] 1977 … going to an Aragon versus Hillsdale game playing at Burlingame High School, and I had to sit on the steps because every seat in the entire stadium was taken,” Sell said. “There was a lot of excitement revolving around those games.”

Before games against Hillsdale, students used to put black roses around the pool.

“Whenever we were playing Hillsdale … during spirit week, they would actually bring black roses and put them on the diving boards,” said physical education teacher and Aragon alumni Annette Trimble-Gennaro. “It didn’t matter what sport it was, we just went all out whenever we played Hillsdale.”

Some of these traditions were cherished by Aragon students and athletes. However, the rivalry has also caused some tension between the two schools. With growing awareness about the values of sportsmanship and integrity, many of these traditions have disappeared.

“For some people it was really hard because they were used to being able to do all these things that they had done for years and were traditions, but [these traditions] were starting to be seen as expressions of poor sportsmanship,” Sell said. “There was definitely a time where people were disappointed that you couldn’t do the same things you could always do. Now it’s been so long that people are surprised we’ve ever done those things in the first place.”

Even though some of these traditions are not happening today, spirit and enthusiasm still play a big part within the Aragon sports community and culture. These traditions were a memorable part of Aragon sports history, and the traditions that occur today will become a part of this history.