Students in the fall show high amounts of school spirit by participating in dress up days, games, and other activities in preparation for Homecoming, Winter Courts and other events. This enthusiasm seems to wane in the spring as fewer students show up to track meets and basketball games unless they’ve been asked to help.
“From the fall to spring, there is a major change in school spirit,” sophomore Reace Harshman said. “I believe the reason behind that is because they aren’t sports that have student sections. Student sections for spring sports don’t make sense, but without them, there’s less reason to be engaged in having school spirit.”
Students have pointed to the individuality that winter and spring sports bring over the fall sports. The sports offered in the fall, football, volleyball, and cross country have more team-oriented competitions, while the sports offered in the winter, basketball and wrestling are usually seen as more individual. Track, golf, baseball, and softball usually have more individual aspects as well.
“I think it has something to do with more spring sports being individual and not a team sport. I am definitely more excited during the fall because it’s the beginning of school and we are all excited to be there,” junior Carys Price said. “I think that if more people would just go and attend other sports competitions during the spring they would have more school spirit.”
Students participating in these sports have shown their thoughts about the lack of school spirit when compared to others.
“During football season school spirit is very high and lots of kids are excited to watch games on Friday night and there was even a good cheering section for volleyball games," said senior Brock Griffin. “Also, kids are very excited because of homecoming during winter sports. Kids get excited for winter courts and have a decent student section for basketball games. In the spring school spirit gets low because the kids involved in sports are very busy and don't have the energy to focus on anything other than surviving school.”
School spirit is an important thing to keep around year-round. The students who play spring sports often feel neglected or left out by their school because nobody comes to watch or cheer. With sports like golf might be understandable, but for baseball and softball it can be very disappointing.
Students during the spring not only have to contend with the individuality of sports, but also the massive workload the end of the year brings. During the last two months of school the amount of missed work from going to sports is at an all-time high. That, and the fact that there’s finals at the end of the year often puts students in an awkward situation when looking for free time near the end of the year.
“It changes to the point where I have what feels like no free time. With two sports, and homework, I’m very busy. In the spring I’m booked most of the time,” sophomore Wyatt Griffin said.
Juniors Tate Morgan, Carson Schroer and Carys Price cheer on the football team during Hawaiian night. “In the Fall there is a lot of school spirit. Everyone participates in theme nights, and dresses up. In the spring we all get overwhelmed with sports and finals, and it becomes harder to attend things,” Schroer said.
Seventh grader Emmett Wilson competes in a class relay at Winter Courts pep rally. “I think that Winter Courts is a great way to show school spirit. Over the year I think that school spirit does die out. There is so much going on that it is hard to cheer on every sport,” Wilson said.
Junior Luke Budke plays a class game at winter courts pep rally. “School spirit really decreases throughout the year. We start out with being able to go to a lot of things, and participate. Then in the spring we all get really busy,” Budke said.
Junior Carys Price wears her golf polo at school to show school spirit. “We wear our golf polos to school so that we can show our own school spirit towards our sport, and be proud that we play it. I think that people just get tired as the school year goes on and that is why we have a lower amount of school spirit,” Price said.
Junior Emma Clements attends the Chase County softball team game. “I think school spirit has changed throughout the year with how many sports are going on, this means not as many people can come and cheer on each sport. Many people are busy during this time of year. I don't think there's anything we could change. Everyone is doing their own thing which would be difficult to adjust,” Clements said.