All For One
ISAIAH FLUHARTY | SEPT 25, 2018 | SPORTS
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) — Sports and the enthusiastic spirit shown at games can unite people. When students at Stanton College Preparatory School root for the Blue Devils at sports games, they are speaking together as one. Like other fans, they cheer and celebrate when their team scores. The more they celebrate together, the more united they become. Last year, Stanton won seven football games, and the school spirit increased noticeably in the eyes of head football coach Michael Healy.
“When we were 5-0, the school spirit was as good as I’ve ever seen it,” said Coach Healy. “I think everybody got behind [the football team].”
photo from Google Images
Students can also witness and experience the school spirit that Stanton possesses. Many people, such as sophomore Neha Sonthi, feel a sense of unification at football games because of the enthusiasm that Stanton students display.
“Everybody does the Stanton fight song and supports the team,” said Sonthi. “That really brings about a sense of unity.”
Stanton’s spirit often mirrors that of fans of professional sports. During the Jacksonville Jaguars’ first home preseason game of 2018, thousands of people showed up to support their city’s team. They smiled and cheered as the Jaguars played on. Fans had a positive attitude towards the game, especially after last year, where the football team pulled off a 10-6 season.
“I’ve been with the Jaguars for ten years. We didn’t come across very many victories during those ten years,” said Mr. Kevin Sharpe, a Stanton history teacher and Jaguars fan. “But in the past two years we’ve done a lot better, and I’ve learned to be cautiously optimistic. I’ve been through the worst and I enjoy any win that we can get.”
Though the Jaguars ended up losing the game, the fans still walked away with positive attitudes, yelling “DUVAL” into the crowds of people. They wore the same colored shirts and jerseys, but they also rooted for their team in the same voice, and celebrated together after the game. The Jaguars team also had to work together and be unified to be able to play through the game. The Stanton football team exhibits this same behavior, both while on the field and while practicing. Aside from bringing students together, Stanton sports can also help unite its team of players. A common goal is shared by every individual, and students can encourage each other to reach that goal and establish bonds.
“When you’re out there on the field, you don’t want to let everybody down,” said junior Ethan Mere, who plays on the Stanton varsity football team. “You always want to try your best so that you don’t bring down your teammates. You feel a responsibility to put forth your best effort.”
The Blue Devils especially had to put forth their best efforts during the summer of 2018, when Coach Healy had to undergo a triple bypass heart surgery near the end of the spring training season. While Healy was recovering, Stanton’s Assistant Athletics Director, Mr. Thomas Baczkowski, was left in charge of the football program. He saw a slight increase in spring training attendees, as well as a strong work ethic and a unified team.
“We had just as many kids show up for the workouts and put in the time [during Healy’s absence] as normal,” said Mr. Baczkowski. “A lot of the kids were really concerned with [their] coach’s health, and I think that they wanted to show him through their work that he was on their minds.”
The football team started a new season on Aug. 24, and the spirit of the team and of Stanton students is now on the rise, thanks to the connection and common goal shared among the players, coaches and students. This unity is also displayed by Stanton’s 12th Man club which allows students to cheer on and support their friends, classmates and teammates.
“The kids who participate in individual sports can come and cheer on [Stanton’s sports teams] at the same time,” said Coach Josh Westfall, sponsor of the 12th Man club. “The players on different teams can reciprocate, and even though they may not go to certain sports events, they can [learn about them from each other.]”
But from the spirit of sports and the common goal that everybody can share, the size of a team and fan base can also contribute to the unity of a sports community. The thousands of Jaguars fans seem to have so much enthusiasm because of their numbers. In comparison, Stanton students have high spirits, in part because of the size of the sports program set in place.
“A lot of kids participate in sports here at Stanton,” said Coach Healy. “If a team wins early, which is important, I think it adds to the spirit of the team.”
Healy also believes having a sports program can help increase the population of a school. When he started as the coach of Georgia Southern University’s new football team in 1980, he noticed an increase in the school’s population after just a couple years.
“The population of that school was around 8,000 students,” said Healy. “After two years with the football program in place, the population had risen to about 15,000.”
Similar to how sports at colleges can encourage students to become active members of the community, Stanton’s football team can encourage students to become active in the community of students that surrounds them. This is especially effective when the team succeeds.
“We are cheering together, and encouraging one another to be our best so that we can win games and show our school spirit,” said junior Caroline Davis, who regularly attends Stanton football games.
Even when the Blue Devils lose a game, Stanton students are still united as a school. Like the Jaguars fans, students do not leave a losing game with negative feelings. Rather, they celebrate their football team with positive attitudes. Of course winning is ideal, but a loss doesn’t bring Stanton’s spirits down.
Through the highs and lows of the football season, Stanton’s spirits remain elevated. Overall, the team works together on the field, and the student body is unified, thanks to the shared enthusiastic attitude it has towards Stanton’s team.