By Lori Cui ‘25
Groton Night set up in MFAC gym
St. Mark’s School and Groton School have one of the longest-standing athletic rivalries in the country, lasting for over 135 years. On the night of November 11th, 2022, both schools had pep rallies to heighten school spirits. The next day, both schools faced off in all fall sports: Field Hockey, Football, Soccer, and Cross Country. The rivalry between the schools emphasizes the participation of all students and teams, from Varsity to Thirds.
Bonfire on Lawrence field
Groton night started off with Varsity team videos and respective team cheers. Following the high adrenaline and cheering, the monitors also released special videos following a storyline of stealing the coat from Groton. They also performed a dance and finally revealed the stolen coat! This year’s Groton Night also featured a St. Mark’s tradition, a bonfire at the end of Lawrence field. With safety precautions in mind, students exited from the MFAC door near the day student parking lot and ran over to Lawrence field. It was a rainy night, but everyone ran with enthusiasm to the awaiting fire. The seniors then carried out the paper mache zebra made earlier, as a symbol of Groton’s mascot animal. After the burning of the zebra, various seniors gave motivating speeches and cheers for the last final hype. Groton night will always be a memorable night for all students at St. Mark’s, regardless of form or team.
Paper mache zebra in the dining hall