The Spirit Trophy returns to Goshen


Goshen Football coach John Stephens, Senior Offensive Lineman Ryan, Senior Quarterback Jake Giordano, Goshen High School Principal Nick Pantaleone, Senior Running Back Liam O'Hara, Interim Athletic Director George St. Lawrence all stand for a photo and smile on the football field. Jake Giordano holds the Spirit Trophy.
From left to right: Goshen Football Coach John Stephens, Senior Offensive Lineman Ryan Fitzpatrick, Senior Quarterback Jake Giordano, Goshen High School Principal Nick Pantaleone, Senior Running Back Liam O’Hara, Interim Athletic Director George St. Lawrence

Since 1896, the Goshen Gladiators and the Warwick Wildcats have been facing off on the gridiron. The Spirit Trophy represents the history of Goshen and Warwick’s communities and families that have taken part in this tradition. 

In the photo above, Principal Nick Pantaleone, a class of 1995 graduate, played against then Warwick coach George St. Lawrence’s team in 1994 for the Spirit Trophy. Mr. Pantaleone emerged victorious, adding a goal line sack of Warwick Quarterback Geoff Green to preserve a shut out!

This year, the Gladiators reclaimed the Spirit Trophy in their 35-26 win at home in the Coliseum on September 26. See what Jake, Liam and Ryan, three seniors on the Gladiators football team, had to say about adding to the history of this game. 

Three Goshen football players pose for a photo on the field.
From left to right: Goshen High School Seniors Ryan Fitzpatrick, Liam O’Hara, Jake Giordano

Jake Giordano, quarterback: It’s good to get the trophy back. Everyone in town talks about the game, it’s a big game. I think it was a great win for our team and it’s good momentum for the rest of the season. 

Liam O’Hara, running back: It was really good to win it, in our senior year for us, too. Good win for us for sure.  

Ryan Fitzpatrick, offensive lineman: I love having the trophy back. We lost it last year, and Warwick won it sophomore year- we were all on that sophomore year team- so I love having it back. It sets us up for the rest of our season really well. 

The Spirit Trophy is in the middle of the Goshen football field displaying both teams.
The Goshen and Warwick logos are next to the words Spirit Trophy on the actual trophy.
The back of the trophy has years with each school's name next to who won the trophy that year. There is a large "50th anniversary" sign on the back of the trophy as well.