Candice Thompson
In Motion Staff Writer
Whether on the field or on the court, students standing in position ready to play ball have put in countless hours of intense workouts, grueling practices and long bus rides.
But when most Daytona State athletes turn their gaze to the stands to see support, they are met with silence and empty chairs instead of foam fingers and matching jerseys.
Empty stands or a huge crowd – there’s little research and much debate over whether or not cheering and jeering can help a team win or lose. One thing is for sure, having a crowd chanting a student’s name will do wonders for their psyche.
Last year, CBS News reported on a basketball game between two high schools in Texas. Gainesville State was playing an away game in Waco against Vanguard College Prep. Away games are usually lacking in fans for the traveling team as it is, but Gainesville State was used to playing for a crowd less stadium. You see, GSHS is a correctional facility for high school felons. Their fellow classmates aren’t allowed out to participate in games.
When VGP recognized this, they made a few changes. Realizing how important it is to have that feeling that someone believes in you and cheers you on, the team asked half of their fans to cheer for the opposing team. Making sure to practice what they preach, half of their own cheerleaders crossed the court to root for the rival players.
Support like this doesn’t just happen at the high school level. In 2014, the entire Patriot cheerleading team took off their jackets to reveal they were sporting Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still’s team jersey underneath. The cheerleaders were wearing Still’s jersey to show support for his four-year-old daughter Leah, who was battling childhood cancer and undergoing surgery to have a tumor removed from her brain. The gesture brought Still, as well as fans, to tears.
Whether it’s a victory or a defeat, no one wants to go it alone. Defeat can be hard, especially after so many countless hours of hard work. And winning, well, it’s only good news when you have someone to share it with.
Daytona State athletes in need of fans’ support