Traverse City Patriot Game

The Traverse City Patriot Game (also referred to as the TC Patriot Game, the Patriot Game, or the Battle for Traverse City) is the annual American football game held to honor fallen soldiers. The annual game takes place between Traverse City West Titans and Traverse City Central Trojans, one of the most well-known and most competitive high school football rivalries in Michigan. The rivalry began in 1997 when Traverse City West and Traverse City Central split from Traverse City Senior High School, which at the time was the largest high school in Michigan. However, the first Patriot Game was held 15 years later in 2012. All games have been held at Thirlby Field in Traverse City, which serves as a neutral site between the two high schools. Each year, Thirlby fills to near capacity with over 10,000 attendees.
History
Traverse City West and Traverse City Central High Schools were both founded in 1997, after extreme overcrowding at Traverse City Senior High. Since then, annual games have been held between the two schools. However, the first Patriot Game was held in 2012, at the suggestion of West's coach Tim Wooer, who wanted to honor fallen soldiers, including one soldier who played football with Wooer while coaching at nearby Kingsley High School.
See Also
* Traverse City Area Public Schools
* Michigan High School Athletic Association
* List of high schools in Michigan

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