During football season many South Lakes students see Herndon as their rival school. However, as fall athletics come to an end and winter sports start up, athletes at Slakes are creating new friendships with Herndon athletes.

South Lakes hockey players have an opportunity to play on a conjoined ice hockey team with Herndon players, but as a club instead of an official school athletics team. Players from both high schools come together as one group and compete against other high schools in the district. 

The club team has allowed players from either school to come together and form new friendships on and off the ice.

“I got a lot closer with the Herndon guys. I already knew some of them, but our relationship has definitely grown stronger,” said Sophomore hockey player Campbell Wilkins.

Players are able to keep these friendships with students from Herndon, whom they may have never known otherwise, outside of hockey as well as on the team. 

In addition, some of the students played on the same youth ice hockey team, Reston Rebels. Those who have been playing with the same people since childhood can expand their experience in hockey by working with other athletes.

“There’s new people who come in who you might not talk to off of the ice, and then you meet them on the ice and the experience is really cool,” Wilkins said.

Players on Herndon-South Lakes (HSL) were also able to gain stronger friendships with people going to their own school. 

“The same kids from the middle school team go to your high school, so you get that chemistry early on, and then you grow a lot as players,” said Luke Bertrand, a Sophomore at South Lakes and HSL team member.

HSL has an Instagram account, (@hslhockeyclub), not associated with either high school, where they post information such as game schedules and themes, player spotlights, and highlights from previous games. Home games are at the Reston Skatequest, and can be a fun experience for students.

“HSL games are very fun, physical, and fast. Students have more freedom, and it’s free to get in,” Bertrand said.