In an effort to get fans in the stands, Wilsonville aims for school-wide excitement, energy, and support from the entire community on and around the field.
The boys Varsity soccer team is having a fantastic season. They are 2nd in the 5A league with an 8-3 record. Bringing fans to the field can help the boys grow the record of victories in their season, as students show up to cheer on their classmates and peers in their endeavors.
Players like Xander Layne love having support from fans. He emphasizes this by saying, “It’s always so fun. It always brings energy to the game, and it just brings that feeling and energy to every event we do.”
Youth nights and big games like West Linn, often get the players excited as well, since they draw in large crowds and cheering sections.
Even when players score, such as Andrew McDougal, Xander Layne, or Noah Arcas as defenders, they can hype up a crowd because of unexpected outcomes, which is always exciting compared to goals from middle field players, since it’s more common.
Varsity Coach Ian Reschke noticed the energy as well and states, “To hear the fans supporting, you can see the energy level of the players just pick up when the fan energy is there, and when it’s not there, it’s hard sometimes to get them motivated in those tougher times.”
With support from the fans, it brings life to the game. The student section can bring the boys up and bring the energy that’s needed. Layne also shares,
“Sometimes, when we are in a rough patch, the only thing that can get me on the field is just seeing people there.” It encourages boys when there are close games as well like Ahola, Southridge, or Oregon City, where you might get discouraged easily, but in the end, having the motivation of the fans can help them win by one or two in close games.
With goal saving catches or blocks from Sage Farrel or Jack Hammond can bring more exciting energy that you wouldn’t get if a large crowd wasn’t there cheering on. This can affect the players attitudes in a positive way, and help their games.
Coach Reschke also states, “If the fans come for every home game of the season, that’s going to carry us a long way. We could have more if we get to the playoffs.” The large impact our school brings to games is so important that we support and encourage them.
We all know that having fans in the stands can help promote good sportsmanship, supporting the sportsmanship and bonding of working together as a team to get an outcome of a victory. Filling the stands is special and motivational for all players, but especially memorable for seniors, who may be playing in their last high school games of their Wilsonville soccer careers.
With upcoming games and even playoffs, we want the boys to win as many games as possible, with the hope and intention of taking a home state title.
The Wildcats are relying on the rallying of the community out on the field, and expect the cheering from the student and parent sections to take over the game-time stress, and rather, boost the morale and enthusiasm both on and off of the field.