Harrington Huskies change name to Spartans Harrington Pop Warner changes name to Spartans, will use high school field only once in 2012 By Bill Mitchell/Special to the Harrington Journal Updated August 28, 2012 Map Data Terms of Use HARRINGTON -What's in a nickname? In general, most high school, college and professional teams are identified by their nicknames. For example; Delaware teams are the Blue Hens, Milford teams are the Buccaneers and some Philadelphia professional teams are referred to as the Phillies, Eagles and 76ers. If you were asked what teams the Huskies nickname represents, the answer would likely be teams associated with the University of Connecticut. In contrast was a local sports program once nicknamed the Huskies - all of the Harrington Pop Warner Football and Cheer teams. The Huskies name, however, will no longer be used since the Harrington Pop Warner committee decided - like most of the Henlopen Conference Pop Warner teams do - to nickname their teams the same as the high school. So, from this point on the Huskies will now be known as the Little Spartans. "I think, when we started our league about 10 years ago, someone on the committee was from Connecticut," said Harrington Pop Warner President Dale Webb. "We felt that, by changing our (nickname) to the Little Spartans, it would give our players and cheerleaders a more sense of pride about representing the Lake Forest School District. "We use the Lake Forest locker room during our games and I think that the kids will have even more pride being called the Little Spartans." This season the Little Spartans will, in addition to cheerleading, compete at the Mitey-Mite, Junior Pee Wee and Pee Wee Pop Warner levels. Harrington, along with the rest of the Henlopen Pop Warner Conference teams, will open the season Saturday, Sept. 8, with the Little Spartans hosting the Little Blue Raiders of Woodbridge. Those games will be played on the Lake Forest High School stadium field. The Mitey-Mites will start at 9 a.m., followed by the Junior PeeWee game at 11 a.m., and concluding with the PeeWee game that's scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Unlike the past several years when all home games were played on the Lake Forest stadium field, next Saturday's game is the only time the Little Spartans will play at that venue. Harrington's remaining three home games (Sept. 15 against Dover/CR, Sept. 30 against Wicomico and Oct. 14 against Lower Sussex) will be played on the Lake Forest practice field. When asked why the other three home dates will be played on the high school practice field, Webb said he would have to answer with, "no comment." "The reason I have no comment is because I really don't know why," he said. "I know Harrington Parks & Recreation Director Bill Falasco requested the field for four games, but was told we could only have it one time. "If I had to make a guess as to why, it would be because the field is already overused. In addition to the high school varsity team, there are freshmen and junior varsity football and boys' soccer games played on the field. "With all the games being played on the (stadium) field, it quickly gets into bad shape. "I've been told that there are now two auxiliary fields being used by the high school teams, which will help lessen the damage done to the practice field." Lake Superintendent Dr. Daniel Curry, when asked why the Pop Warner teams would only be allowed use of the stadium field once this season, said the only reason keeping the young Spartans at bay at the moment would be a scheduling conflict with one of the district's teams. "A scheduling conflict is the only reason why they wouldn't be able to use the field," Curry said. The Journal was unable to identify possible scheduling conflicts between the Pop Warner program and the school teams given each's posted schedules. Webb said he's very aware that there are some parents that are upset about the Little Spartans having just one game on the stadium field. "I fully understand why they are upset," he said. "However, I don't want to get into it, I just want these kids to learn and play football."

Harrington Little Spartans Cheerleading Jr Pee Wee Squad went to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and competed at the ESPN Wide World of Sports on December 7th in the Pop Warner National Competition. They competed and placed 2nd in the level 3 small division. Thank You to everyone who donated to help get them there.