PROVIDENCE, R.I.–A “spirit challenge” hosted by this state’s credit unions helped to connect people who have been sheltering at home by allowing them to demonstrate their school spirit in a friendly virtual competition.
The Credit Union Spirit Challenge was presented by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) and the Credit Unions of Rhode Island. The social media event featured the RIIl’s 56-member high schools engaged in online head-to-head matchups, according to the Cooperative Credit Union Association, which first reported the competition.
The CCUL explained the event was hosted on the RIIL Twitter account (@RIIL_sports) and the matchups were conducted via Twitter polls that were also promoted on the RIIl’s Instagram and Facebook pages as well as the RIIL website.
“Through its Better Values, Better Banking campaign, the Credit Unions of Rhode Island were proud to support the Credit Unions Spirit Challenge,” Andrew Rogers, VP-operations with Westerly Community Credit Union and chair of the 2020 Credit Unions Championship Committee, told the CCUL. “We all know how important high school athletics are and although we were not able to see the schools compete on the basketball court, we were excited to see them compete virtually.”
Four Regions
According to the Cooperative CU Association, the Credit Unions Spirit Challenge bracket was divided into four regions: the North Region presented by Wave Federal Credit Union and Navigant Credit Union; the Central Region presented by Pawtucket Credit Union and PGE Federal Credit Union; the South Region presented by Westerly Community Credit Union and Greenwood Credit Union; and the East Region presented by People’s Credit Union and Rhode Island Credit Union.
The CCUA report said the competition began with the first 12 opening-round matchups in the North and Central regions on May 18 and continued over the next three weeks. Schools receiving the most votes in their respective matchups continued to advance through the bracket, with North Providence High School (North Region), Davies Career & Technical High School (Central Region), Chariho Regional High School (South Region) and St. Mary Academy – Bay View (East Region) qualifying for the “Final Four.”
North Providence and Chariho then advanced to the final, where the Cougars of North Providence High School were ultimately crowned the 2020 Credit Unions Spirit Challenge Champion, garnering 55.8% of the votes in its title matchup against the Chariho Chargers, the CCUA said.
More Than 44,000 Votes
The CCUA added the RIIl’s member schools embraced the good-natured competition and the chance to unite in spirit during this challenging time, with principals, athletic directors and other boosters rallying support for their schools in creative ways on social media.
“The Rhode Island community responded to the call with more than 44,000 votes recorded over the course of the competition,” the Association reported.