Red and Blue

Red aNd Blue South Side’s legendary tradition

By Jill Nossa

Songs are sung, sports are played and spirits are high at South Side High School’s annual Red and Blue competition, which is still going strong after 104 years. Last March, the event was one of the last held in the South Side gymnasium before the coronavirus pandemic caused the schools to close for the rest of the school year. Rockville Centre’s Red and Blue goes way back to its humble beginnings in 1916, a time when girls were not allowed to participate in high school team sports. The long-running tradition was changed up a bit after male students were allowed to participate, but the event still mainly features female high school students. In March, the victory went to the Blue Team with a final score of 52 to 47, coming back after a loss to the Red Team in 2019. Over the course of the three nights of dancing, skits, songs, relays and athletic events, about 400 girls engaged in friendly competition, led by Red Team captains Jillian Schumacher and Katie Ernst and Blue Team captains Nicolina Mauro and Erin Testa. Hundreds of people flocked to South Side High School to watch the events that kicked off on March 5, when the themes were revealed: Eyewitness Blues and RedTime Stories. The serious competition began on March 6 and continued on March 7, providing a showcase for the girls to reveal the work they had put in over the previous five weeks. Under the direction of Megan O’Brien and Margaret Kelly, teachers at South Side High School, the girls, freshmen through seniors, spent hours every day creating and practicing their various routines. “Every year, what stands out most among both teams is the amount of work the girls are able to get accomplished in a such a short period of time,” O’Brien said. “The dances, skit, songs, and prop all require specific attention. We are always impressed by how well students are able to balance the many responsibilities of Red and Blue in addition to their academic and personal commitments.” Past team captains return for the weekend to judge the events, and the teams earn scores in each category. “Red and Blue is a tradition that is important not only at South Side and with decades of alumni, but also with the community of Rockville Centre,” O’Brien said. “Many women who graduated from South Side return to this community and raise their families here, and their daughters in turn participate. The program brings together upwards of 400 girls who paint, sing, dance and compete in various athletic activities. It is an inclusive program that is used to emphasize unity, sportsmanship, empowerment, and school spirit.” The team captains also emphasized that, while winning is nice, in the end it is not the point of the competition. “My favorite part about Red and Blue is making new friendships, meeting new people,” Mauro said, “and creating a bond with every girl on the team.”