Barbecue Brings High School Athletes Back to School Early

The cafeteria of was packed Wednesday night, even though the school year won't start for another two weeks.

The reason?

Collingswood High School's second annual Pre-Season Athletic Barbecue.

With fall sports season right around the corner, Collingswood Panthers Athletic Director Ron Hamrick put the event together again, to make room for a few hours of bonding and catching-up among district student-athletes.

Students were overheard chatting about summer jobs they worked, and vacations they took.

“The reason we’re here is for family building,” Hamrick told the crowd, which included about 200. “It’s very, very important that no one team thinks they’re better than another. We are all the best.”

Hamrick, along with Principal Edward Hill and Assistant Principal Michael Sheridan, grilled up hamburgers and hot dogs for students and coaches Wednesday.

Parents and coaches added to the feast, bringing dishes like potato and macaroni salads and chips, to give the night that authentic barbecue feel.

“I don’t know any other schools that have two principals cooking for you guys,” Hamrick joked to the student athletes.

Though remorseful that the event was moved indoors because of rain, Hamrick noted it was an incident that athletes could take something from. 

“We can’t control Mother Nature, but oh well. We adapt and we overcome,” Hamrick said. “We see fourth-and-one this year, and the center has to put the ball in a puddle, it doesn’t matter. We gotta make a penalty kick under pressure we hit. We adapt and we overcome.”

Hamrick and Hill took time to review new athletic policies the school will be implementing this year. These included new lateness and attendance policies, , social media guidelines, and athlete eligibility.

“It’s important to tell our athletes now, because they’ll get the word out to other students,” said Hill. “We go over policies with all students when they come to school, but when the athletes know ahead of time, it gets drilled into their heads. The athletes get the word out, and by the time school rolls around, half the kids already know.”

Hill stressed to athletes that they are leaders at their school.

“As you go, the school goes,” said Hill. “All the good that you guys do on the field; carry it over into the classrooms and the hallways.”