Floral Park homecoming friends have skin in the game
From left, Floral Park Memorial High School students James Hieb, Jack Dixon, Victor Mirfessis, Michael Goga, Nick Del Giorno, Tommy Conway and Ryan Hayden wore scarlet body paint while cheering for the Floral Park varsity football Knights during the school's homecoming game on Oct. 15, 2016. Credit: Ian J. Stark
For seven Floral Park Memorial High School students, school spirit was demonstrated Saturday by loud cheers, boundless energy and ... body paint.
“We let everybody know how much we care about the school by putting our bodies on the line,” said 17-year-old Floral Park senior Jack Dixon, explaining why he and six other students attended the school’s 2016 football game donning red paint in lieu of shirts.
Each sported a letter drawn in white that, when they sat in the right order, spelled “KNIGHTS,” Floral Park’s mascot. Dixon served as the “N.”
“It’s the one chance we can take, the best opportunity to show how much school spirit we have,” added fellow senior Nick Del Giorno, who came to the game as the “H.”
“Besides,” he added, “shirts would only get in our way.”
The game-time temperature was in the mid 60-degree range under a sunny sky.
But, exclaimed the “S” -- aka senior Ryan Hayden -- “We would be like this no matter how cold or whatever. We have fans of our own who count on us to come out like this… to bring real spirit when we appear.”
James Hieb, a senior, who was painted in "K" said, “We only do this during homecomings… this is our second one," although the crew admits they are considering expanding their schedule due to the reactions they’ve received.
The school is aware of their take on spirit and is OK with it under certain conditions.
They have been instructed in ground rules like no cursing, no insulting, not to be upsetting in any way, and not to jeer the opposing team or their guests.
“They encourage us to be fans, not fanatics,” explains Victor Mirfessis — aka the “I.”
The crew tries to pick letters with some connection to each of their names. Michael Goga, for example, is naturally the “G.”
“Like, I’m the ‘T’ because I’m Tommy,” adds Tommy Conway, the sole junior of the bunch, who also notes, “and it doesn’t hurt that I have a T-shaped body.”
The rest of the shirtless guys laugh at this line, a common occurrence among the friends who somehow mostly manage to not speak over each other despite the comedic nature of what they are doing.
“Yeah, these people love us,” Goga crowed, “because we are funny. Next stop: Broadway.”
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