Every year, high school sports teams look forward to one game more than any other: their rival. Rivals tend to be a team from the same area or county and have a similar level of competition.

Rivalries tend to differ throughout various sports. At Notre Dame, the football and tennis teams are big rivals of Green Bay Southwest, whereas the boys soccer team’s biggest rival is East De Pere. 

In cross country, Preble has been the strongest team for over a decade, and in volleyball, Bay Port is the team to beat.  For girls golf, Coach Brian Bobinski says the Sheboygan squad is the biggest conference rival.

Maria Koval, top-seeded varsity singles tennis player, said that while Southwest is their top conference rival, the University School of Milwaukee seems to be their premiere rival at state competitions.

“We (the Notre Dame and Southwest players) hit with each other on weekends and out of season,” said Koval.  That common practice time allows the players to get to know each other very well and heightens the competition factor, she said.

By definition, a sports rival is defined as “equal in quality or ability,” although the most important characteristic may be strength of athletics.  School history can also play a role.

For example, De Pere and West De Pere high schools have a strong history of rivalry simply due to the fact that they are competing to be, as many say, on the “better side of the river.”  East High School and West High School have a history based on the same kind of thinking.

“Rivalries are formed in one of two ways: a) either two city schools with similar strengths have a lot of spirit and fight for pride, or b) two schools have a very close game at an important time, like playoffs or state, and the loser holds a grudge for the upcoming year(s),” said Miko Filon, a junior who plays varsity soccer and is captain of the hockey team.

One of the most exciting aspects of a rivalry for sports fans is the factor of pride. Although one team may be without doubt better than the other, all players give everything they have, and the game usually evens out.

“No matter how good (or bad) we may be, we always play our biggest rivals in a very close game. Because no matter how much talent one side may have, the biggest factor is simply who wants it more,” said junior Alex Lech, a varsity football player.

Sports fans around the world live for the close games between rivals. In some countries it may be soccer, in the U.S. it might be football or baseball, but no matter what, people always look most forward to the games in which they play their biggest rival.

“I think rivalries always have something to do with competing cities and sports teams, and when those teams consistently have close, drawn out games, the fans really get into it, and a rivalry is formed,” said junior Jim Liddy, another varsity football team member.

The NDA boys cross country team was able to best their rival Preble High school Thursday at Colburn Park, ending Preble’s thirteen-year defense of the City Meet. 

 “It was a great team achievement ending Preble’s championship reign. However, it was just one meet, and our most important meets are yet to come,” said sophomore Varsity runner Dylan Lange.