There was a special ceremony on Tuesday at the Board of Education meeting to honor three groups that Athletic Director Bob Merkler said had brought “tremendous pride and success” to Verona High School last fall: the Marching Maroon & White, the cheerleaders and the state championship football team.
Merkler noted that the marching band—which numbered 80 members last fall—is often very visible to the community. “You can drive by our fields at night and they are out there under the lights,” he said. “On Fridays, they provide the entertainment at our games whether it’s at home or on the road. And on Saturdays, they travel throughout the state to perform their show. Without them, a football game is not the same. Thank you for your support throughout this season,” Merkler told Director Erik Lynch and the band members in attendance.
Merkler commended the cheer squad for their dedication. “It doesn’t matter if it’s hot or cold, rain or sun, they are out there supporting our team and community,” he said. “They do an amazing job week in and week out and are an integral part of our games. Thank you for your support throughout this season.“
Then Merkler turned his attention to the titles totaled up by the football team. “Our team reached unprecedented heights this season,” he said. “They captured a division title, the North 2 Group 2 Sectional title, and the North Group 2 Regional Championship while also completing a 12-0 season. It was a truly dominant season where the average score in our games was 39-11. This is a special group of players and especially seniors. They will go down in Verona’s illustrious athletics history as the best football team who has ever played here. It was really amazing to watch them week in and week out and see how they galvanized our school community. Congratulations on such an amazing season.”
Every band, cheer squad and football team member in attendance received a certificate from the BOE recognizing them for their accomplishments.
