Every team has a preference for the environment they perform in because it affects their performance. According to the leaders of the boys and girls basketball team, this impacts their team the most. Gavin Wunderlin, team captain and senior on the varsity boys basketball team, references playing well as “putting on a show for the audience.”
But his relationship with the audience isn't only one way as the student section and crowd help with their yelling and presence. “They motivate us while the teams' momentum is down,” said Gavin. With minimal attendance to the game, it makes you question why you are working so hard to represent if no one will give the effort to see it. “It's like you try so hard just for nothing, almost pointless.”
Natalee Fried, the captain of the varsity girls' basketball team, says, “It helps to know that people want to show up and it gives us something to look forward to and play harder for.” But when no one is there, “who wants to play for nothing, and you can only play so hard out of joy for the game. Sometimes one needs an extra reason to push harder and perform better and bring more seriousness to the game.” When fans don't show up and there is no extra support from a student section, it makes the game lose some of its meaning and it demotivates the players.
The players love the consistency of people that attend and support our teams. They need everyone to keep coming with their voices as they do. We as a community and school can make a better and more positive environment for our stu