Boar Pen supporting the Girls’ Varsity Soccer blackout game on September 22.
No athletic competition would be complete without Choate’s Boar Pen cheering from the sidelines. Boar Pen is a group of seniors who cultivate school spirit on campus, supporting teams of all levels. This year, Boar Pen’s leadership lineup is composed of six students dedicated to the Choate community.
Historically, Boar Pen leaders play a varsity sport. This year, artist Ximena Castillo Núñez ’24 is here to break tradition. What Castillo Núñez lacks in varsity letters she more than makes up for in school spirit.
One of her core memories at Choate is the Boys’ Varsity Soccer game at Deerfield Day last year. Enthusiastically cheering with megaphone in hand, Castillo Núñez dubbed the experience her “audition for Boar Pen.” Her desire to boost school spirit was largely inspired by past Boar Pen members. “They make everyday things about school more exciting,” Castillo Núñez said.
Likewise, footballer and lacrosse player Tariq El Mammann ’24 was influenced by former Boar Pen leaders, particularly Damian Carrano ’22. “He was always a role model and mentor for me … seeing him on stage at pep rally or School Meetings with so much school spirit always inspired me to do the same as a senior,” said El Mammann.
With a deep love for the Choate community, El Mammann hopes to make an impact on the School. “Everyone has a position on the Boar Pen. We’re just the ones leading,” he said.
Golfer Philip Harris ’24 attributed his desire to be a Boar Pen leader to past members Carrano, Ava Parker ’23 and Rachel Miller ’23. His aspirations, some more realistic than others, include moving the annual Deerfield Day pep rally into the athletics center and acquiring a live boar for events.
An avid supporter of Choate athletics both on and off the field (or golf course, in Harris’s case), he aims to expand his enthusiasm to the student body. “I was put on this earth to motivate and spread school spirit at Choate Rosemary Hall,” he said. “At the end of the day, I bleed blue and gold.”
Rower Brecken Cullinan ’24’s personality and desire to help foster school spirit motivated her to be a Boar Pen leader. “I myself am a very loud and outgoing person,” she said. “I want to bring that energy to the School.”
In the coming year, she aspires to “create an environment where everyone on campus feels supported and backed by everyone.” In line with this sentiment, Cullinan hopes to highlight different aspects of the school besides athletics, like the arts.
Footballer and ice hockey player Carter Linardos ’24 attributes his freshman year, a time when Covid-19 restrictions put a significant damper on school spirit, as his motivation to be on Boar Pen. Hoping to continue the trend of ever-increasing school spirit, Linardos wants to sell t-shirts and other merchandise for big athletic games this year.
He also plans to prioritize community engagement through regular school meeting appearances and social media activity (@boarpen on Instagram). “We dream very big with what we want to do,” Linardos said.
Lacrosse player Sophie Sharko ’24 also recalls the somber Choate community amidst Covid-19 during her freshman year and the improvements since. At Deerfield Day last year, Sharko painted her body in blue and gold, enthusiastically cheering from the sidelines.
“That was the most spirited I had been,” she said. “It was really fun to just go all out.” Valuing the sense of community and support for all students, she looks forward to the pep rally before Deerfield Day this year. “Having school spirit really brings the community together,” she said. “It really changes so much about the experience at Choate.”
Boar Pen has already elevated the atmosphere on campus, bringing dress-up themes to games and posting video clips of community members on social media. With a group as inspired, motivated, and enthusiastic as this one, the Choate community can expect a year to remember.
