Supporters of local high school teams find creative ways to back athletes
They are the true blue.
They are the fans that show up week after week at scholastic football and basketball games, track meets and other sporting events to cheer on their fellow classmates with team colors emblazoned on their faces and personalized T-shirts on their backs.
“It’s nice to see them get together and provide some school spirit,” said John Diamond, principal of Laurel Highlands High School. “+We do enjoy their enthusiasm.”
It’s an infectious spirit, according to school officials, who noted that the high school fans will find many opportunities to support their athletic classmates.
“It’s not just basketball or football,” said Heather Sefcheck, assistant principal at Uniontown Area Senior High School. “It’s all range of sports. They are dedicated – always wearing some Raiders sweatshirts, scarves and hats.”
Some fans choose a theme for each week and dress to match it.
“They’ve done a white out, a blue out. They had a Santa hat night. One night they dressed in Halloween costumes,” said Rich Evans, assistant principal at Connellsville Area Senior High School, who noted the students were planning a pajama night.
One LH theme that Diamond remembers well is when students dressed up as varsity boys basketball coach Rick Hauger, sporting white dress shirts and sweater vests.
Sefcheck noted the school has spirit week when big games are coming up with students enjoying dressing up for Raiders Day, Twin Day and Maroon and White Day.
They also participate in pep rallies, having competition among the classes as to who can chant the loudest.
Sefcheck said that students take it upon themselves to make T-shirts to support a player or a team. Teachers have become involved. Sefcheck said the graphic arts teacher makes T-shirts and the technology education teacher makes signs in addition to the signs made by the cheerleaders.
LH fans also will support a particular player, recently wearing bright-yellow T-shirts featuring basketball player DiVonte Walton.
Skooter Roebuck, athletic director for the Brownsville Area School District, said the district has been encouraging more support at school sporting events, offering special discount pricing to students at games and featuring giveaways.
He said an added benefit of the increase in school spirit is providing a link between the athletes and the students who don’t play sports.
“Sometimes they are disassociated in school, but now you see them come together, talking in the hallway and having more in common,” Roebuck said. “The kids on the court or field appreciate their classmates coming to support them.”
The support doesn’t end at the home court. Many students can be seen at away games as well.
“They’ve started to do fan buses. They’re very supportive,” Evans said. “And very rarely do we have to talk to them about stepping over the boundaries or doing anything unsportsmanlike. Our students handle themselves in a good way.”
School officials also noted that pride for their home team can allow students to have a little fun with it, while at the same time learning a lesson in good sportsmanship.
“I tell our students that I want them to cheer positively and loudly, but cheer appropriately,” said Diamond. “The contest is decided on the floor. They should support our students win or lose.”
Recent studies show that students are more stressed than ever these days, so smearing a little paint on your face and letting loose at a sporting event is actually good therapy, according to Adam Sedlock, a licensed psychologist in Uniontown.
“It’s quite all right for individuals to become sports enthusiasts. We have a need as humans to identify with different things,” Sedlock said. “Wearing your school colors and your school logo is part of growing up in our culture.”
He also noted that the extra support from peers can boost the self-esteem of the athletes.
“Hopefully, the team is standing up as a positive influence and doing what is good,” Sedlock said. “Team members have to realize they play a vital role in our children’s society and high school youths’ society. They’re looked at as role models. Coaches and teachers need to ensure they remain role models.”