"Excitement in the air:" New Berlin schools face off with hopes of taking home 'National' title

New Berlin schools face-off with hopes of taking home ‘National Championship’ trophy

New Berlin schools face-off with hopes of taking home 'National Championship' trophy

NEW BERLIN -- The crisp fall air, the smell of the fresh cut grass, and the cheers from hundreds of students. There's something special about Friday night football games.

At New Berlin West High School on Friday night, September 25th the lights are on, the football game is going, the crowd is getting ready to be excited -- but there's a whole lot more going on.

New Berlin West High School

"Every Friday is a football game so every single Friday for the past, I don't know, how many years, everyone goes to football games," said Claire Radtke, New Berlin West High School senior.

New Berlin West High School

At the home of the New Berlin West Vikings, this typical Friday night has a different feeling for West senior Claire Radtke.

"You can just feel the excitement in the air and it's just really fun because it's something to look forward to, it's like a tradition that everyone loves to do so it's just the excitement in the air is the best part," said Radtke.

The Friday night tradition gets even better for junior Molly Austad, on this night as West is celebrating its annual homecoming.

"Tradition especially with this school and homecoming, I know like everybody gets excited. I know I'm in school government, I just get excited for picking the theme and like what we're doing and like decorating I know we do before," Austad.

"Homecoming is a time to bring everyone together, our pep rally today was rowdy and loud and it's definitely a special time throughout the school year. It's unlike anything else," said John Kozlowski, West senior quarterback.

"It just brings, brings emotion to the game, even more emotion that it originally has," said Felipe Marquez, West senior wide receiver/linebacker.

New Berlin Eisenhower

That emotion for senior football player Felipe Marquez is compounded by the fact that homecoming this year is against their long time rival, New Berlin Eisenhower.

"We have to show the community who we are, who's the best football team in this city and hopefully we show that its us," said Marquez.

With the tradition of homecoming coming together with the traditional rivalry, a new tradition is being introduced.

"It's something to go out there and compete for, it's a new experience. I never had to fight for a trophy before and it just feels good to have one to fight for," said Marquez.

The "National Championship trophy" or the "National Avenue Championship" trophy is now at stake every time these two teams meet.

Felipe Marquez with National Championship trophy

"I think it gives everyone a little bit more motivation to get out there and play hard and the fans to cheer even louder for them tonight," said Radtke.

But there is still something bigger for quarterback John Kozlowski and his teammates.

"The trophy is a nice adding, it means a lot to have that in our showcase but at the end of the day, our team is more worried about a win than anything else," said Kozlowski.

Win or lose, what will cap it all off is another homecoming tradition.

"Then we get to dance at homecoming," said Austad.

While one team is going to be dancing with this for the next year, we do know the homecoming dance is Saturday, September 26th for New Berlin West.