In September, many students return to school looking a little different. However, this year, the SHS boys’ soccer team took their image to a whole new level. Sporting short, bleach-blond hair, team members caught many teachers and students off guard on the first day of school.
“Most people liked it–a lot of friends wanted to touch my hair, and many even called me Eminem,” commented senior Tyler Morrison. A striker for the boys’ team, Morrison has been on varsity for the past three years. Although he has had short hair in the past, he was looking to make his senior season as successful as possible. “It’s taking me right down memory lane. My parents are happy to see me with short hair again, and it’s reminding me of when I was younger,” he said.
In recent years, many teams have begun to adopt these obscure haircuts. Hockey players tend to get mullets around playoff seasons. The soccer team’s decision to get their haircuts preseason shows their confidence in their team and drive to start the season off strong. And with a strong 4-2-2 start, one could argue the haircuts did their job.
After a conversation with senior captain Ashton Seymour, the origin of the haircuts was unveiled: “ It was a team decision but was influenced heavily by seniors such as Ben Hill and Tyler Morrison, as well as myself.” Seymour added, “We wanted to bring the team together, and through the haircuts, players aren’t only playing for each other but for their hair, too.”
This positive outlook shows the team’s morale and willingness to put their hair on the line if that means a stronger team bond. For many, hair is a major part of their identity, and for the team to make such a bold change shows how close this team is even during preseason.
Senior Captain Darren Gould has been a proud member of the varsity team for four years, yet this is his first time getting a haircut for the team. He noted, “This is a special group of players we have this year, and for us to all come together and shave our heads is special.” Gould’s high expectations of three playoff wins truly exemplify his confidence in his team, and with the new look, this confidence has been able to be carried onto the field.
Despite the positives of the haircut, one negative has emerged: The players all look the same on the field. In a game against Plymouth South, a referee of the match confused players Ben Roche and Tyler Morrison. This resulted in a yellow card for the team, as Roche was already given a warning. Thus, when Morrison had a word with the ref later in the game, he believed Roche was back for round two, resulting in a yellow. Morrison claims the ref went up to him at the end of the game and apologized for the mix-up due to the hair, as the two players looked the same to him.
The Sailors look to continue their momentum going into the playoffs. With a record of 13-2-3, their team bonding may have been one factor in this season’s winning record.