During school, at practice, even as they lay in bed, the soccer girls couldn’t escape the thought of one thing: Crumbl Cookies. The thought of the soft, warm treats lingered in the back of their minds, a constant, mouth-watering distraction.
After their hard-fought victory in the first round of states—their first in 12 years—Coach Mirabito knew it was time to reward them for their dedication, both on and off the field. Bito felt that “a victory like this called for a celebration” and what better way was there to do it than with boxes of Crumbl, showing up like a hero with the girl’s favorite sweet treat in hand?
The drive to the opposing team’s campus took about an hour, which, by high school standards, is practically a road trip. The campus itself, nestled in the mountains and surrounded by trees, looked like something out of a nature documentary, so picturesque it might’ve made you want to quit soccer and start hiking instead. “This campus reminds me of a Zach Bryan song,” shouted Hannah Benowitz (’27) as she stepped down the steps of the yellow school bus.
On paper, Tenafly was the underdog, the “Cinderella team,” but the girls weren’t intimidated. The first half of the game went scoreless, a bit like watching a tense game of “who’s going to make the first mistake”—spoiler alert: it wasn’t Tenafly. Then, in the second half, Tenafly made its move; a goal here, another one there, and suddenly it was 2-1. As the final whistle sounded, the field exploded in pure chaos. The Tenafly soccer girls stormed the field, celebrating their victory. The win didn’t just punch their ticket to the next round of states, but it gave the entire team the sweet satisfaction of proving that, yes, they could defy the odds and beat a team that probably didn’t even know who they were. It was a sweet victory that made the hour-long drive home worth it.
After that long of a game, the last thing the girls wanted was to spend the next day in socks, shin guards, and cleats. “We need a break,” Emily Brahms (’27) whispered on the bus back to their hometown. Somehow, those words telephoned all the way to the front of the bus, and once they reached Coach Bito, they’d taken on a new form. “Forget practice tomorrow,” he said with a sly grin. “Instead of running drills, let’s go to my room and watch a film on Morris Knolls. Let’s figure out their weaknesses.” What Bito didn’t mention was that he had a little surprise waiting—because what’s better than scouting your next opponent? Scouting them with cookies.
The next day, the routine was blissfully different. No early morning trips to the locker room, no gear to haul around the hallways, just a promise of an afternoon that would involve sitting down and focusing on something other than running sprints. At 3:11 p.m., the bell rang, and by 3:15 p.m., the girls were lined up outside Room 205, waiting for Bito to unlock the door to their new “training ground.” When the door finally cracked open, the girls piled in and took their seats, chattering about anything but soccer for a moment before the lights dimmed. Then, their attention turned to the big screen in the top corner of the room. The game footage of Morris Knolls flickered to life.
Ava Chun (’26), who is always one step ahead, leaned in, her eyes narrowing on the screen. “I played with number 23 once. She’s good.” Bito’s voice interrupted the girl’s murmurs. “Your friends,” he said, “will become your enemies, and that’s when you know it’s a real game.” The film played on. Assistant Coach Kougasian paused the film from time to time to go over and point out the other team’s strengths and weaknesses. “We do have the potential to win this,” he announced. “It just all comes down to whether you play like you want it.”
While the girls were distracted by Kougasian’s words of wisdom, Coach Bito motioned for Melina McKelvery (’26) to follow him outside into the hallway. She slipped away with the grace of a secret agent, making sure that no one noticed that she had snuck off. Once she stepped into the hallway, she looked at Bito, but her eyes quickly moved from staring at his face to his hands, which were grasping onto three big pink boxes. No labels were necessary. The unmistakable shade of bubblegum pink screamed one thing and one thing only: Crumbl Cookies. McKelvery’s excitement nearly escaped in a high-pitched squeal, but Bito silenced her with a raised finger. He handed her the boxes and she took a deep breath, knowing that the girls would swarm her like bees to honey, and the thought alone made her half wish she’d brought a suit of armor.
And she wasn’t wrong. Once the boxes were visible to the girls, the classroom exploded with excitement. Captains Ruby Shultz (’25) and Sydney Josif (’25) rushed to the front—where the cookies were placed—to cut them into pieces so everyone could try each flavor. “We finished cutting,” Shultz announced to the girls. Her voice betrayed a note of pride. But before she could blink, the girls all ran up to the table and began to pick up the cookies.
For the week of November 4-9, the Crumbl Cookie lineup consisted of Butter Cake, New York Cheesecake, Original FT M&Ms Candies, Oatmeal Raisin, Strawberry Cupcake, Peanut Butter Blossom, The Original Pink Sugar, and Milk Chocolate Chip. There were so many options to choose from.
Natalie Farber’s (’26) eyes lit up as she saw the box lids fly open, and she dove straight for the New York Cheesecake cookie. She had a soft spot for cheesecake, but the idea of it in the form of a cookie was too intriguing to pass up. She bit into it, and her jaw dropped. The flavor of creamy cheesecake, rich yet perfectly balanced, was present in every bite. “I’m ordering this again when I get home,” she said, her voice filled with delight.
McKelvery, on the other hand, took a more classic route and picked up the Milk Chocolate Chip cookie. For her, Crumbl’s Milk Chocolate Chip was a guaranteed hit. It was always just right: soft, slightly chewy, with just the perfect amount of gooey chocolate chips. “It falls apart in your mouth and just makes you want to keep eating,” she said, already reaching for a second bite.
Zoe Wasserlauf (’27), meanwhile, picked up the Original Pink Sugar cookie—the one that many dismissed for being “too sweet,” but not Wasserlauf. To her, the Original Pink Sugar was the ultimate treat, and always reliable when she wanted something sweet. “This one will never miss,” she said. “Whenever it’s an option, I always have to get it.”
After everyone had taken their first bites, savoring each flavor and discussing which one they enjoyed the most, they returned to their seats. The girls laughed and relaxed, but they turned their focus back to the screen in the upper-right corner of the classroom, because in Bito’s world, even a “break” wasn’t really a break—it was just another way to stay ahead with a little sweetness thrown in.
