Something special about high school sports is the pride in playing for your town and the people in the stands. Being one of said fans is equally important, but besides creating chants about bananas, what’s the value of a solid student section?

Senior softball player, Sophia Vega, has lots to say about playing a sport whose dugout shares a fence with the stands.

“Even though a crowd can add pressure, that pressure can be what’s needed. It lets us know people care and we’re part of something important, making us want the win that much more.”

“When there are no fans, we don’t feel as if it’s a varsity match. There’s not as much care, but when you have your classmates and family involved in the match, you have people you want to succeed for,” she continues.

Even if it’s the kid who cut you off in the parking lot or a former player who graduated, being present at the game is a reminder and builds pressure that the highest performing athletes thrive in.

Another fan favorite that can’t go without mentioning is football games. It’s the Friday nights with the entire town there to support, and you have an entire section of students led by cheerleaders to show their support, that the community begins to feel like family.

Even through all the whistles, band, and play calls, when Wilsonville’s students show their pride, it fills the stadium obnoxiously. The chants and cheers may be silly and, for some, just a good time, but they can easily be a game-changer.

Senior Andrew Herrera, who just finished up his final season of football, has plenty of tales on how valuable a student section is.

“You can’t win a game with a bad attitude, and nothing’s more frustrating than the other school filling your ears when you’re trying to play. It can distract you and make you take your mind off the game, allowing the other team to make mistakes,” he says.

“When it’s your own school, it drives you, it makes you want to be the player to make the next play, and nothing gets you more hyped than after a big play, you can’t hear anything over the roar of the crowd.”

High school sports bring a different meaning to the crowd. You’re not only playing for the team, but you’re playing for your town, teachers, friends, those who played before you, and those who will play after you, and those reminders from the crowd are the key to a win.