Sports jerseys are more than just uniforms; they are symbols of tradition and identity, reflecting the spirit of Westminster and its athletes. As the school evolved, Westminster’s jerseys have also showcased its history and its athletes’ aspirations for the future.
Previously, teams had the freedom to select various logos and colors, resulting in an often uncoordinated array of jerseys. To address this, the school implemented a policy requiring teams to feature either a “W” or the word “Westminster” on their jerseys.
“The school is slowly moving to make our jerseys across different sports teams look more unified by making teams include a W or the name Westminster, and by making teams have green or white on their jerseys,” said Scott Snyder, boys varsity soccer head coach.
This initiative aims to create a consistent color scheme and jersey design across all sports. For example, soccer teams now typically wear green for home games, white for away games, and gray as an alternate jersey. Additionally, there has been a transition in jersey brands from Reebok to Adidas and now to Nike, a change that has excited many athletes, particularly on the boys soccer and lacrosse teams. The boys soccer team in particular has gone through an array of stylistic changes before settling on their current uniform.
“Our past jerseys had collars as well as stripes,” said junior soccer player Anderson Lee.
Today, however, “Our soccer jerseys are white, green, and gray,” said Snyder.
This shift away from collars and stripes has led some players to desire a return to those vintage styles.
“I would want to go back to having stripes and collars on our jerseys,” said junior soccer player Teddy Schrader.
Many players also want to retire the gray jerseys, which several feel are less appealing compared to the white and green options.
“I think the gray jerseys are way worse than the green and white ones,” said Lee.
Athletes are also proposing new jersey designs that incorporate school colors with a creative flair.
“Having black jerseys with green splotches would be nice,” said juniors Tenzin Patel and Lee.
Schrader also envisions “jerseys in varying shades of green,” aiming to bring a fresh look while maintaining school colors.
The girls tennis team has not shared the same enthusiasm for the switch to Nike.
In the tennis realm, the girls team previously enjoyed the freedom to choose any white Westminster attire, offering them a variety of options. However, the new policy enforcing uniformity has limited their choices, leading many to feel constrained. They are advocating for a return to their previous flexibility and suggest adding green jerseys while keeping the white ones as well.
“Having another color to choose from, maybe green, would be good,” said junior Lilya Elchahal.
Looking to the future, players across various teams want to regain flexibility in opposition to the school’s unified jersey options. The boys lacrosse team, which has worn unchanged uniforms for several years, is eager for an update. Currently wearing green and white jerseys, players feel it’s time for a change.
“I would like the jerseys to have different colors,” said junior Rowan Gillian.
Ultimately, despite mixed feelings about the switch to Nike, athletes from soccer, lacrosse, and tennis are united in their desire for new colors and designs. They see this transition as an opportunity to move beyond the current green and white palette, envisioning more unique and vibrant styles for their uniforms.
Edited by Neil Govin
