By Victoria Bauer
Round Table editor
Determination, sweat, and excitement fill the stadium under the bright Friday Night Lights. The team’s captains make their way to the field, walking slowly but steadily, trying to intimidate their opponent as much as possible. The ref signals who won the coin toss; Middletown chooses to receive. Players and fans get ready for kick-off. Taunts and chants are exchanged between the two rival fan groups, while the opposing players lock eyes; it’s game time.
Although tensions have been rising between other schools in Frederick county, such as Brunswick and Linganore, the Walkersville-Middletown tradition has ultimately remained the same.
“Walkersville has always been our rival, but this year it seemed like it could have been Brunswick. The game was really intense and the fans were into it the whole time,” said Middletown High senior, Ellen Heller.
It seems as if the controversy lies within the definition of a rivalry. Some people classify it as a tradition; others see rivalries as constantly changing depending on the intensity of the game.
It is arguable that Linganore and Brunswick could now be considered rivals because of their strength and ability, but there is no question that the Walkersville rivalry has never left Middletown.
“Other rivalries come and go, but the Walkersville one has always stayed the same. We have the same size school, and at one time we had a very similar community. Overall they were the biggest competition to us,” said MHS teacher and alumni football player, Jerry Donald.
Whether the Walkersville-Middletown rivalry was created from tradition, or other circumstances, some alumni remember various stories and incidents that may be responsible for starting the tradition.
“I remember in high school, we all viewed Walkersville as our rival based on a story everyone knew about. Walkersville students stole plastic forks from us, and in retaliation we did the same to them. After that the rival fans brought forks to all the games. It was something silly that we all shared, and after that I guess the rivalry just stuck with us,” recalls alumni and teacher Casey Rogers.
While the stories have changed, and time has passed, the Walkersville Lions seem to have made their place as our rival.
In the most recent years, Middletown football has always dominated the Lions, but Walkersville has had an impressive 2011 football season, with their only loss being to the Middletown Knights.
The regular season game against the Walkersville Lions was an all-out battle. It was intense from the anticipated minutes before kick-off, to the last few seconds of Middletown’s fourth quarter victory.
“Walkersville andMiddletownare so close to each other and this rivalry is just something that started a long time ago and never ended. Every year they talk about how they are going to beat us, and every year we put them in their place,” said Middletown junior football player, Cody Martin.
The two teams are scheduled to meet again on November 18, and there is no doubt that this game will be one to remember.
“The game Friday will be our most intense on this year. It means everything to Middletown; a regional championship, a berth into the state-semi finals, and one last chance to beat our rival,” said Knights quarterback Michael Pritts.
