By Nicole Reich ’17

Many may be unaware that Sherwood’s colors are blue, white and red. Although red is a secondary color, it is featured on lettermen jackets and on the uniforms for the boys’ basketball, track, boys’ and girls’ soccer and baseball teams.

​ Girls’ varsity basketball was due to get new jerseys this year after the decision was made to pass down their current uniforms to the JV team, which had uniforms that were in bad shape and a mix of different styles. With the opportunity for new uniforms, the varsity team requested uniforms to have red among the colors, similar to boys’ basketball team’s uniforms that were approved last year by MCPS Athletics.

​However, the request for uniforms with red was initially denied at the school level. It was then that junior Amanda Allen, the captain of the girls’ varsity basketball team, addressed a letter to Athletic Director Kathy Green and Assistant Principal Sandi Williams in which she again requested uniforms similar to the boys’ team. She also passed around a petition signed by almost 200 other students to get red in their new jerseys. Every single player in the school’s basketball program signed the petition. “I believe adding red outlining to the numbers on our jerseys will look sharp and professional just as the boys’ uniforms look,” said Allen. “Requesting this did not change the price or arrival date of the new uniforms that we were going to receive regardless if there is red or not. We were simply asking for equal treatment to many other sports teams at Sherwood.”

​Allen had the support of her teammates and coach, Timothy Hobbs. “I am very grateful for the support from the entire basketball program along with many of my classmates. I am thankful for Mrs. Green and Ms. Williams for listening to my thoughts and allowing us to receive the new uniforms with red in them,” said Allen.