High school sporting events are some of the most incredible displays of school spirit. Drums, costumes, and decorations fill the crowd as the basketball or soccer team faces off against city rivals at the den. At each game, students try to be louder and more engaged than the opposing fans, and every game ends with animosity between the opposing student sections, but what does it mean for the players?

The competition between public and private schools is not always equal, but what public schools lack in resources, we make up for in attitude. Though certain private schools may have recruits, a larger coaching staff, and better facilities contributing to a more qualified team, public schools are larger, louder, and much more passionate. For example, in Sidwell vs Jackson–Reed in the quarterfinals, the Sidwell student section was half empty, while the JR student section was spilling onto the court and into other sections of the stadium, getting security involved, and some even got kicked out.

Many athletes say that having a large student section benefits them, making our attitude an asset to us. Varsity football kicker Dayton Turano said that he plays better in front of a crowd, “it makes playing in the games much more fun and exciting.” This gives public schools an advantage over private schools, and this is shown in the performance too. Sidwell Friends is higher-ranked than Jackson Reed at all levels, yet that didn’t faze us. Our student section outdid theirs in every way.

The attendance is also not the same for each sport and each game. Only a handful of students will show up to an away baseball game, while hundreds will show up to a home basketball game, and this affects our performance. Basketball, football, and soccer players might get lots of attendance at their games, while field hockey or lacrosse players don’t, and because of this, they don’t get the benefits of a student section cheering them on.

Having a ruckus students’ section is not only a fun display of school spirit, but it gives our teams a real advantage on the field. As shown time and time again, the Jackson Reed student section is an important part of the school, and it represents our Tiger pride. •