The ongoing rivalry between teachers Mr. Cardon and Mr. Weyker has become a notable aspect of OHS’s culture. Richard Weyker leads OHS’s history program, while Andrew Cardon is at the forefront of the algebra program. Despite teaching vastly different subjects, these educators have developed a dynamic that has become a blend of friendship and rivalry.
“I kept hearing kids talking about this other teacher, Mr. Weyker, and how he is a great person, so I decided I needed to meet this guy,” Cardon said.
Initially unfamiliar with each other, both teachers were encouraged by students to connect, as many had taken classes with each teacher and recognized similarities in their teaching styles and senses of humor.
“He is such a good teacher that he motivates me to want to be a better teacher; he makes me want to do a better job,” Cardon said.
The two educators find each other equally motivating, as they have similarities within their respective teaching styles.
“To meet someone like him, who clearly cares so much about teaching and invests so much thought into it, really motivates me,” Weyker said. “That said, he needs to be destroyed.”
Their playful rivalry has persisted for years, although they tell different stories regarding how it all began.
“The real beef is that he had to cheat at the arm wrestling competition held in front of the entire school. Now, I won the first round because it was legitimate, and after I beat him, he cheated the second time, and there is video evidence,” Weyker said.
Five years ago, the two faced off, but while Weyker recalls this as the origin of their rivalry, Cardon asserts that the roots go deeper.
“It started as a friendship, but then I found out he was a Green Bay Packers fan, and he stole my cat,” Cardon said.
Cardon explains that he lent his cat, Mortimer, to Weyker during a difficult time in his life. However, Weyker has kept Mortimer for over a year.
“He’s such an easy guy to get along with when he’s not vindictive, petty, and jealous about his cats and loser Cardinals,” Weyker said.
Despite their differing opinions on the football field, the two share a deeper bond, viewing their friendship as a tight-knit team.
“We feed off of each other like teammates playing a sport, and when they’re both having a really good game, the team is doing well,” Cardon said.
Outside of their friendship, the two explain how impactful friendships among other teachers can be.
“I encourage other teachers to be more outgoing and to initiate conversations with teachers in different departments because we all work for the same school and have the same goal,” Cardon said.
With over a hundred teachers on the OHS campus, it can be a daunting task for educators to form friendships outside their own departments, but Cardon and Weyker are living proof that doing so has many positive outcomes.
“In the profession of teaching, it can be very isolating, but having relationships with people, such as Cardon, who can relate to what you’re going through is vital to surviving this job,” Weyker said.
