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As the Dreadnaught student section tries to build strength coming off the Covid-19 pandemic, involving underclassmen has been a big change
WRITTEN BY JP ASSENMACHER, SYDNEY WINDER, AND FRANCISCO MORALES-LEVERETT
The student section is a football season staple. The moment you step foot into the stadium, you hear the chants and screams of encouragement.
The theme of the night becomes apparent as you stare into the stands at the masses of students in their costumes. Whether you’re there to watch the game or hang out with friends, the student section is the main place for DHS students to socialize and have fun.
But the student section we saw this year is different from the ones we’ve seen in previous years. Some argue that it’s gotten weaker while others argue it’s gotten stronger.
The Covid-19 pandemic brought a striking halt to sports and all things social, but before that fateful day in March of 2020, DHS’s football season brought plenty of onlookers, many of whom were part of the student section years prior.
Although it may be hard to remember the details of those games, one thing students tend to remember are the memories made on the gray bleachers.
“Freshman year [was the best student section],” senior Joey Tessmer said of the 2019 group. “But that could’ve just been because you’re with the older kids and it was more fun.”
Wyatt Novara replied, “It’s fun to be able to look at the people down below and look at the ‘cool seniors’,” senior Wyatt Novara said, referencing how the younger grades sit higher in the student section. “I guess when you’re a senior you look up and you’re like in the front row and everyone behind you is younger than you. I think it’s a different feeling.”
The “cool seniors” are also a big part of what makes the student section the student section. Without the hype songs and the loud, taunting chants, the student section arguably wouldn’t be that fun. That hype tends to start with section leaders.
The seniors this year made it a goal to do their best to incorporate all four grades into the atmosphere instead of just having the upperclassmen run the show. The seniors would call out trivia questions at halftime and whoever would answer the questions correctly would get a reward, making the underclassman feel more included through these activities.
“I think it’s evolved from something mostly senior-led to something that our seniors bring every other grade into,” senior Gerzon Herter said.
Being a part of the student section was a big deal to some of the incoming freshmen. Growing up you always see and hear the student section during games, so when you finally get to be a part of it, it’s an experience.
“The atmosphere was super great and it made it super enjoyable and fun,” freshman Hayden Gaetino said.
But to some freshmen, it wasn’t all they were hoping for.
“It was all right,” freshman Owen Winder said. “We could’ve done so much better. The hype just really wasn’t there for some of it. I think the upperclassmen got a lot more hype than the underclassmen did.”
The student section has been with DHS through the thick and thin of the last few years, but it has evolved into something different. Seniors have the expectation that the student section will continue to thrive and adapt and be a staple at Dreadnaught sporting events for a long time.
