When attending school sporting events, it’s common to place athletes’ performances in the hands of their training up to the current game, match or competition.

However, training isn’t always the sole factor in how a student athlete executes their craft.

Strong school spirit generates a powerful and more competitive environment, which in turn encourages stronger plays during sporting events.

“I would say it impacts my performance (because) whenever I get on the field, there’s this sense of energy,” junior football player Liam Wilson said. “It gives you a boost of adrenaline because you know everybody’s there watching you, and everybody’s cheering and you’re there to perform for everybody else.”

Whether it be assembling large student body groups to attend school events, creating supportive signs or even participating in spirit day wear, there are many different ways to express school spirit.

The environment students create is important because, oftentimes, it’s easy to forget that the players on the field, court or track are students just like ourselves.

They have their own lives outside of the world of athletics to tend to, which is why we need to do our part by lifting them up in their moments of struggle. 

Every single player that participates in school sports also commits to the struggle of having to balance their physical and academic performance along with their personal life. 

A study conducted in 2023 by Holston Academy said that about 91% of student athletes face stress because of the sports they play, this is a statistic that does not elude the student athletes of SHS.

If the school wants to truly support their student athletes, then it’s time for everyone to start to do  their part of creating a positive school environment.

That way, we can not only help create a space where athletes and spectators want to return, but also show athletes that their hard work pays off.