#GoGraftonGo — to Friday night’s GHS football game. It’s free!
Hey, Grafton Gators! Are you ready to return to The Swamp?
Friday opens the football season under the lights at Grafton High School, a return to normalcy after COVID-19 had sports teams playing shortened schedules, often without fans.
In celebration, Grafton High Athletics Director Kevin Anderson has decreed that Friday’s game against Nashoba Regional High School, 7 p.m. at Grafton, will be free for all fans.
“The 2020-21 Athletic season had so many highlights and exciting times. But one thing was missing… you, the fans,” Anderson said on the teams’ Instagram. “So as we return to action this week, we want the Grafton community to come back out and support the Gators all year long.”
Another sign that the times are changing for Grafton athletics can be found on the Grafton High School gym floor. There, in the gym soon to be named for the recently retired Jim Pignataro, the former clip art Plains Indian logo has been replaced with the teams’ “G” logo.
With overwhelming student support, Grafton High last year retired the “Indian” mascot and replaced it with a Gator. It was among schools and professional teams across the country — including the former Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians — to ditch racist depictions of Native Americans.
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As someone that has been involved with fundraising for several years this feels like a slap in the face. The crowds will be there regardless of a fee or not and this is a missed opportunity to raise money for the program as well as other sports. Kevin is throwing several thousands of dollars down the toilet. The fundraising it will take to recoup this will be enormous and Kevin will surely not be a part of that effort.
Go Gators!