Supporting your school through athletics can be an exciting way to end your day. However, just like most school-related things, attending school sporting events has its quirks.

     Going to a school sporting event can be the highlight of any high schooler’s week. Cheering with friends, showing school spirit and taking dubs with LHS is awesome. Although it may be fun to go out and support LHS in the court and on the field, sometimes, there can be downsides to attending school sporting events. For example, some games or matches can last upwards of four hours at a time. Fans usually remain dedicated to their team’s performance, but some events take up a very large amount of time in one’s day. Many students’ love for LHS outweighs their desire to have a life outside of school.

     “Loving the vibe, I have been here for two hours and loved every moment of it,” said freshman Henry Haft.

     Others, not so much…

     “I don’t really like how sometimes [the games] can be super late because I just want to go to bed,” said sophomore Alisha Schmidt.

     Going to school sports events can be a little inconvenient. Students have to arrange a ride there, arrive early to get seats and simply figure out the theme for the game. However, once you find your way to the ranks of red, white and blue clad students and take your place among your friends (or, if you are not a senior, the ‘next row back’), it is a blast to participate in student section antics. The student section cheers are the highlight of any game, especially ‘yell’, ‘go big red’ and ‘lets get fired up.’ While there are many pros and cons to staying up and cheering on your favorite school teams, some fans, like Schmidt, know that supporting their favorite teams can leave them with some hilariously awkward memories.

     “I pulled someone’s hair in front of me because I was cheering so hard, but then I knocked her over so…,” said Schmidt.

     Sometimes people can get a little too hype at games so there have to be periods where the students sit down and take a breath. That is when the amazing LHS band or cheerleaders come in a put on a small half time show to ‘wow’ the crowd. Honestly, students really just come to watch the marching band. Besides football games interrupting attendance to marching band shows, sometimes the student crowd can be a little annoying. During games, many fans become confused on what or when to cheer. Because most cheering crowds are led by students, cheers can be uncoordinated or absent altogether.

                                                Photo by Margaret Alleven

     “[It’s hard to concentrate] when someone cheers the wrong thing and it just feels really awkward, or when they shout the cheer three times and forget to [stop],” said sophomore Margaret Alleven. “Basically, we need better freshmen.”

     Attending sporting events can be a great way to spend time with your friends, but it is not always easy to get a hefty turnout at games. Student sections can range from five students to hundreds. Of course, with more students, the fans get louder and louder. Erika Snyder, a student and fan at LHS, also believes that attendance to games is key to to LHS success.

     “It’s not as fun when less people show up,” said Snyder. “But when they do, the team gets really excited and then they win.”

     Of course, there is always the matter of showing up the other side of the court or field. It is good to have a bigger student section than the opposing team, but it is even more important to have a louder voice. Cheering from the stands pumps up the players and helps LHS win games. If not for its glorious sports teams, LHS should be known for its outstanding student section. School spirit is essential to keeping LHS traditions alive.

     “I just like seeing the school spirit that everyone has. It really makes Lincoln, Lincoln.” said Alleven.

     Though attending sporting events is, at times, a hassle, at least a couple should find their way onto your schedule each season. Attending a game and being part of the LHS student section will not be something you live to regret for the rest of your life. Not getting the chance to might haunt you forever. Overall, it is your decision to go out and support LHS’ many sports teams, but it does not hurt to go out and try a few games or matches out. You could meet new people, learn one or two things about a sport, or at the very least, attend just so you can go the the afterparty post-game.