Every student athlete has wanted to own or wear a varsity jacket at least once in their life. At James Caldwell High School, there has been a debate over whether the varsity jackets are worth the amount people are spending. The cost of the jacket ranges between $300-$500 and there is a $300 downpayment and the remaining $200 is paid once the jacket is picked up.
JCHS alum Daniella Cornet believed that varsity jackets are representative of the quote “Once a Chief, Always a Chief.” She thinks that the second a JCHS athlete receives their jacket, they wear it all the time. After graduation, JCHS students become emotional because that chapter of life has finally come to an end. From experience, Daniella knows that it really hits once the jacket is packed away because that is when you think “Once a Chief, Always a Chief.”
Varsity jackets are seen as an achievement for the hard work from student athletes. Dylan Barboza, a JCHS varsity football player, notes that a varsity jacket shows one’s dedication and discipline for a sport. Receiving a jacket could be seen as a rite of passage for some athletes because it is seen as odd if a student purchases a jacket before they make a varsity team. Buying a jacket before making it on the varsity level is equivalent to buying a trophy instead of winning one, making a varsity team and then buying a jacket is proof to peers that you worked hard for your jacket and appreciate it.
In regards to the cost, many varsity athletes do not want to purchase a jacket because they know that they won’t wear it again after high school. Bella Medina, a JCHS varsity lacrosse player, did not want to buy a varsity jacket because she did not believe that it was necessary to spend $500 on a jacket that she would only wear for a short amount of time. Medina, like other students, would like to have a varsity jacket to show off their hard work, but do not see it as financially responsible to pay a large quantity on a small item even if it has meaning.
Varsity Jackets will continue to be an ongoing debate long after the class of 2025 graduates. For students, the cost will be a factor that turns many people away from purchasing a jacket, but also the practicality of the jacket all together. Overall, the main questions students need to ask themselves: is it worth it?
