For the past few years, the halls of the Taft School were quieter than usual when it came to school spirit. But this year, the Red Sweater Club has restored the mojo. They are louder, bolder, and ready to bring the entire student body together.
Seniors Joe McBride ‘26 and James Hagberg ‘26 are the backbone of this revival, as the sole two members of the club. As athletes themselves, they weren’t just looking to cheer at games; they wanted to make school spirit meaningful to everyone. Inspired to be enthusiastic at Taft, Joe said, “We wanted to use our voices to lift the community together. It’s about making students feel excited and proud to be here.”
The club’s efforts have already made an impact across campus. Through social media, flyers, and word of mouth, the Red Sweater Club encourages every student to attend night soccer games, intense football games, and competitive field hockey games. They emphasize that seeing students engage in supporting each other is at the core of the club’s mission.
This year, Joe and James also plan on expanding participation beyond themselves. The club has recently implemented a dorm representative program, recruiting a diverse range of student voices, including girls, to ensure the entire school feels represented. “We choose prominent people in our community to reach as many students as possible,” Joe explained.
While the club is mainly focused on sports, Joe and James have big plans for building community throughout the year. Winter events, like potential dodgeball tournaments, snowball fights, and outdoor activities, are planned to combat cabin fever and give students a chance to meet friends they might not otherwise interact with. Given that the annual D’Arco Hockey game versus Berkshire is at home this year, the RSC is expecting a great turnout – both in the stands and on the ice.
The standout moment for the two club members so far was Red Rally, Taft’s annual school spirit event leading up to Hotchkiss Day. When asked their favorite memory thus far, they responded “Preparing for the main event felt rewarding, as [they] spent many hours recording and editing, with teachers even saying it was the best video they’d ever seen.” The duo worked with School Mons and teachers like Ms. Shanley, fine-tuning everything from the music to the timing on stage, ensuring everyone had a great experience. What might a future aspiring Red Sweater Club leader look like? Joe confidently stated, “You have to care about the student body, because it’s about ensuring that others have fun, and are excited and proud of their school. All of this starts by loving the people around you and wanting to share that energy. A piece of advice would be to show up as much as possible.” The two heads remember their sophomore year, as they were eager to get involved at every game.
If you asked them to describe the club in three words, they would answer: vocal, community, tradition. With red filling the stands once again, the club is prov- ing that school spirit is beyond cheering, but it’s about those shared moments that make Taft feel like home.
