We get it – maybe you didn’t know there was a game that week. Maybe it wasn’t on social media or advertised very well. Maybe it’s a sport you’ve never watched before. Maybe you’re just tired.

But there are many athletes that have never experienced the fanfare and support from a packed student section that others have. 

Showing up for the student section is not just to support the athletes, it’s really to build community. 

Mead High offers 13 different sports. Seven for both girls and boys and six for just girls or just boys. 

As many know, there are major sports (like basketball and football) that most students attend. Let’s be honest, middle schoolers attend these games and hundreds of family members. 

However, every activity – especially those lesser-known sports, deserves the same support. 

The student section brings energy and can be a major factor in changing the momentum of a game, especially if Mead is losing. The support the students bring when cheering for their team means a lot to the players. Part of cheering for our team is also cheering when the team isn’t doing so well, to provide support for the team when they are feeling down. 

Basketball player Matthew Angelo (‘25) said, “[The energy] means a lot, because the student section can definitely change momentum for either team. So when they’re chanting even though we’re down definitely means a lot.”

Many students who attend the larger events, such as the football games, also love showing up for the Mavericks to cheer and support their team. 

Koen Klink (‘26) attends almost all of the home football games. He dresses up and participates in all the spirit themes. Klink attended 10 football games this past season. Nine of which were at our home football field and one was at Holy Family. 

Building a community is a very important part of high school. It means exposing yourself to some things that may be out of your comfort zone. Going to games also helps us meet other people. 

Like Rylee Russell (‘26) said, “You get to meet [new people] and get to know [them],” which leads to “a really good community space.”

Even if you can show up for one match or one part of a game, it’s worth it. 

Also, it’s important to attend all types of games with the same energy as the more popular ones. 

So, Mavs, let’s make it a point to show up for sports and cheer for our team!