HS Program Split On Changing Nickname From ’Millionaires’

December 12, 2011 /
Berkshire Eagle, Christopher James

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/sports/ci_19527309

The Lenox boys soccer team was reaching new heights.

But at Worcester’s Foley Stadium last year, the giggles in the press box weren’t about the Millionaires’ first trip to the state title game. The conversation was instead focused on that nickname.

“I feel bad for the kids when they’re picked on,” said Lenox athletic director Joan Schultz. “Around Berkshire County it’s nothing but when you take it out to Worcester there’s always a snicker from the audience.”

Changing the school’s nickname came up at a selectmen’s meeting recently and the idea is nothing new. While Schultz and some of the school’s athletes respect the town’s history of millionaires employing residents which the name is based on, some don’t feel like they can relate to it today. There are others, though, who love the uniqueness of the mascot.

Josie Marshall, a multiple sport standout for Lenox said the name just puts her and her teammates in the spotlight.

“I think it causes a lot of hatred toward Lenox,” Marshall said. “As a member of the Lenox team, I’d prefer to have a different name. It just causes some tension because people think of us as stuck up.”

When Brendan Hall, now the editor of the high school section at ESPNBoston.com, first covered Lenox as a freelancer for the Eagle in 2005, he said he assumed Lenox was a pretty affluent community.

Marshall said she doesn’t want to be viewed that way but there seems to be an exhaustive process required to change the name. Schultz said she believes that ultimately the town would have to vote on a name change at a town meeting.

The school rarely promotes its current nickname. Schultz said she doesn’t know of any uniform or warmup that says “Millionaires” on it. Staff clothing always says “Lenox Athletics” or “Lenox Memorial.” The only place the school uses Millionaires is on certificates that show athletes were on a varsity team, Schultz said.

“I think [the students would] like to see it changed,” Schultz said. “It’s tough. It’s a tough name. I don’t think the history of the school is ever taught.”

Former boys basketball coach Brian Cogswell, who stepped down last year, said he thinks the name is interesting and unique.

The nickname appears to be pretty rare, but a school in Williamsport, Pa. does also use the name.

“Lets get excited about it,” Cogswell said. “It’s different. You’re not just like everybody else.”

Chris Bravo, who plays three sports at Lenox, said he agrees with Cogswell. Having a team name that’s rooted in town history instead of something generic is special, he said.

Bravo said he never has been teased on the field. If there’s a stereotype of Lenox being the “rich kids,” Bravo said it may be as much about the school’s record the last couple years as it is the Millionaires nickname.

“People probably do think [we’re rich kids] because of our name,” Bravo said. “It’s a natural connection people would make. We also partly have a target on our back because of the success we have had across the board.”

The boys soccer, girls soccer and boys basketball teams have made it to a combined four state tournaments since the beginning of last season. Dan Ventura, the Boston Herald’s High School sports editor, said he remembers first hearing of the Millionaires when the Lenox girls basketball team made the state tournament in the early 90s. Over a 26-year career, Ventura said the Millionaires is one nickname that sticks out.

“I thought it was great,” Ventura said. “In a time where almost every team is the Lions or the Raiders, I thought it was pretty cool. Whenever they’ve done well in the tournament, nobody ever said anything bad about it.”


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