Very few environments can match the rowdiness of a home crowd at a football game. The chants, the yells, the overall passion of the fans create an experience unlike any other. When you are in the student section at PLHS, it will be no different.
In a crowd full of students, they are not just cheering on their fellow classmates, but their close friends as well. Because of this. It is easy for all students to connect with the action, even those who do not usually find interest in sports.
To help organize the students into being even more passionate, each year, a select number of seniors are selected to be the leaders of the student section. The leader’s job is to help lead chants, and just overall get the spectators more involved and passionate about what they are watching.
One of this year’s leaders is senior Dylan Wernli, who has found a lot of enjoyment in his role.
“I love the energy everyone brings,” Wernli said. “I’m pretty loud, so I like it when I can just scream.”
The role of conducting an entire crowd of high school students is no easy task, and is not for the introverted. Even those who are loud and passionate about the game can have some uneasiness with the role.
“Looking up at everyone at the first game was definitely scary,” Senior leader Sterling Sindelar said. “But I did get used to it as the game went on.”
Football season may be coming to an end, but there are still many sports to come this year at PLHS, and Wernli himself will soon be one of the athletes that is getting cheered on.
“I’m looking forward to baseball,” Wernli said. “Since I play it, hopefully people can bring energy to those games too.”
It is important for all students who attend home games to remember to bring the same school spirit and passion, to create an environment that motivates the athletes, and even intimidate the opposing team.
