On game days’ fans pile into gyms, they scream from the stands, engage in bragging or indignant wound-licking after a painful loss to a rival team.
There are your standard sports rivalries, and then there are teams you love to hate.
For many Lethbridge College Kodiaks Fans, the Medicine Hat Rattlers fall into the latter.
The two schools compete against each other year in and year out, and the crowds never fail to show up in droves to show their allegiance to one side or another.
Taylor Jetten, Assistant coach for the Lethbridge College Kodiaks Men’s Basketball team, has been a proud member of the Kodiaks athletics world for many years.
Before taking his coaching position on the bench he spent two years as a basketball player, and three years on the soccer team, all while donning the Kodiak’s blues.
Jetten says no matter what sport he played, Medicine Hat always presented a different sort of challenge.
“The games are always hyped up because you’re so close to each other. Often, you’re battling for the same playoff spot or the same title.”
Fourth-year guard, Michael Clemons joined the Kodiaks basketball team this year from Grande Prairie. He says even though he’s new to the team he knows Medicine Hat always proves to be an intense adversary.
“It’s bad blood. You can just feel the tension.”
Clemons also says the feelings of hate aren’t one-sided.
“Even as the new guy you know, we don’t like them; they don’t like us.”
Fresh face on the Medicine Hat squad, Aaron Cameron, has also only been playing basketball with the Rattlers for one season.
He mimics the sentiment put forth by Clemons.
“Knowing the other team hates your guts makes it more exciting and pumps you up the minute you step on the court. Rivalries are always fun,” said Cameron.
Jetten says the strength of the rivalry is a testament to the tight-knit southern Alberta communities’ ability to bring out the best, or worst in each other.
The passionate coach also jests the detest for the other team goes beyond the court.
“It makes it worse when you lose against a team you hate because you just don’t want them to have good things in life,” joked Jetten.
For teams as close geographically as Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, there is a constant battle for titles, conference positions, and local support. Jetten says that can make the conflict between the prairie neighbours fierce.
“You know we’re always competing in the same division as them so it’s inevitable we will face them every year,” said Jetten.
The Rattlers and Kodiaks met up three times in the regular season and once in conference championships. The Kodiaks claimed three wins on the season while the Rattlers managed to scoop one win.
Cameron says the eventual next match-up is bound to be just as electrifying as the ones before.
“It doesn’t matter whether we play in Medicine Hat or Lethbridge, once we are on the court, the crowds are really into it, we’re really into it and it always makes for an action-packed game.”
For Clemons, he has one simple sentiment going into future match-ups against their rivals. “No matter who we’re facing it’s always going to be exciting and physical and I just have to say, ‘Go Kodiaks.’”
