Somebody Should Have Thought This Through: Ridgewood Cheer Spirit Wear Design Raises Eyebrows
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, School fundraisers are usually a straightforward affair—a great way to support student athletes while showing off some local pride. However, a recent online apparel store for the Ridgewood High School Varsity Cheer team has residents in Ridgewood, NJ doing a double take.
A Design Oversight?
techniques for local spirit wear usually play it safe with classic school names or traditional mascots. The current RHS Varsity Cheer fundraiser includes a few non-cheer-branded items, including popular mock neck sweatshirts and cozy sweatpants for girls and women.
The catch? Printed prominently across the front of the apparel is the word “WOOD” in massive block lettering—presumably a play on the ending of “Ridgewood.”
While the design was likely intended as a chic, abbreviated style for local apparel, many residents quickly pointed out that the design team failed to anticipate common modern slang and double entendres before approving the text across high school spirit wear.
Limited Time Left on the Online Store
Despite the unintentional humor and social media chatter surrounding the design choice, the fundraiser remains live for a limited window. According to the team’s online shop—where items like their Plaid Crewneck Sweatshirt are featured—the store is set to close on Monday.
Whether the bold design becomes a sought-after tongue-in-cheek collector’s item or leads to a quick artwork revision, one thing is certain: people in town are definitely talking about it.
Stay updated on state and national news that affects you. From politics to policy, from culture to current affairs, our eBlast will keep you well-informed . http://eepurl.com/bgt6T #RidgewoodBlog #LocalNews #StateNews #NationalNews #Subscribe #Community
Tags: Ridgewood NJ, High School Sports, Spirit Wear, Local News, Social Media Trends, Bergen County
Given that “wood” is common slang for an erection, it’s surprising that no one considered the obvious meaning before putting WOOD in huge letters on apparel intended for high schoolers.
Common in your weird ass brain maybe 😂
I’m surprised this made it through the approval process. Putting WOOD in huge letters on clothing marketed specifically to teenage girls seems like a pretty significant oversight.
RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Public Information Officer
Christine Corliss, MBA Award-Winning Communications Professional
WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
Teen Cheer—mostly female minors—wearing clothing featuring WOOD (IN ALL CAPS) prominently across the chest and rear. 😬
Oh Heavens! Sexism is thriving in Ridgewood
This seems really inappropriate for merchandise being marketed to minors. Someone should have caught this before it went on sale.
Oh stop
There have been plenty of apparel offerings printed with “Wood” in the past. How many times do u hear fans in the crowd say let’s go Wood. Get a hobby
There’s a difference between fans yelling “Let’s go Wood!” at a game and putting WOOD in huge letters across the chest and rear of apparel worn by teenage girls.
Get your brain out of the gutter
Ridgewood Football is also selling “WOOD” sweatshirts? Why isn’t this “controversy” also about that sport? Seems to be some sort of personal vendetta against Ridgewood Varsity Cheer.
What a snooze. Worry about bigger things. Ridgewood has been called Wood or the Wood forever. It’s adorable, if you’re not into it, just don’t buy one. No biggie.
What manufactured nonsensical outrage. Get your minds out of the gutter and grow up. We all have car magnets and beach towels and hats that say Wood.
Don’t we have far more important things to worry about than what pervs think of innocuous abbreviations??!!
Is it just a big deal because the cheerleaders are using it? There is a lot of Ridgewood merch with “Wood” on it. People shout “Go Wood” at games. Now a bunch of snickering adults think it is inappropriate for the girls?
Decide if it is inappropriate for all sports, not just cheerleading. Make a decision for everyone
This is only an issue on The Blog. There was no Social Media chatter. Someone was looking for a reason to embarrass Ridgewood Cheer. He/She failed
Are the checks still in the mail?
I think you are confusing the former ridgewood junior cheer and RHS high school cheer. These sweatshirts have nothing to do with the former Ridgewood junior cheer program.
Wow, I guess whoever approved the design didn’t realize how many 12 year old boys are walking around impersonating adults. If you live in “RidgeWOOD” and see the word “Wood” on a sweatshirt (probably in school colors) it shouldn’t require mental gymnastics to make the connection. If the clothing said “Wood Maker”, sure, I would understand the discomfort then. If you are out in the world and see the word “Wood” and the first thing you think of is sex then that feels like an issue with the lens you use to view the world (or you have teenage hormones). If you jumped to thinking about sex because of the association with cheerleading then what a crappy world to sexualize young girls in that way and what a shitty message to send to girls about how they are seen.
We are not WOOD. We are RIDGEWOOD!
Who pissed in your Cheerios ?
Or do you meen “cheer?”
Grow up clown
Tempest in a teapot….
What are the Van Zile sisters up to these days ?
You ppl need help… spinning this in a sexual manner is comical. Bunch of clowns
Maybe the bigger question isn’t what “WOOD” means in slang. It’s why Ridgewood would want to reduce its name to something so generic in the first place.
Englewood
Glenwood
Lakewood
Maplewood
Maywood
Norwood
Ridgewood
Ringwood
Wildwood
West Wildwood
Wildwood Crest
Westwood
Why voluntarily strip away the part that actually distinguishes us from everyone else?