Charlotte Nugent, Julia Logan
The Hastings Girls Varsity Soccer Team has just completed a great season. However, their success was due to more than simply their athletic ability. This year, a small group of extremely enthusiastic and devoted fans known as "The Burke Jerks" came into existence. The Burke Jerks, with a core of seniors - Adam Mandel, Anonio Corbia and Quinn Nolan - followed the team to home and away games alike. They withstood an array of weather conditions including rain, wind, bitter cold, and even a shocking October snowstorm.
The boys began the season by showing their spirit through loud insults directed at the opposing teams. However, after some intervention from the officials, they made the cheering more positive. The put-downs were replaced with Queen songs and respectful exclamations when a play was disliked such as "SIR" or "I disagree." The Burke Jerks also made nicknames for the players, such as "Solomander," "Sarah Small But Mighty Madigan," and "LeFevre Fever." Their unique style and overall wit consistently inspired laughter and excitement within the crowd and soccer players alike.
According to Corbia, the Burke Jerks began because he "knew a lot of the girls on the team and had nothing better to do with [his] time." However, the group evolved over the course of the season, from the three lone members carrying a snare drum and vuvuzela into a school-wide phenomenon.
Mandel said that he was inspired to become a loyal fan when, "at the first game when we came in full force, the love we got back from the team made us feel like more than just fans. And it was that love that drove us to become the Burke Jerks."
Grace Coomaraswamy, a member of the soccer team, said that the participation of the Burke Jerks kept everyone "motivated and pumped up and looking forward to all the games."
Hopefully the Burke Jerks will keep up the positive attitude in Hastings athletics for the rest of the year.