What’s the last PGHS sports game you attended? I have a few guesses: boys basketball vs. Carmel? The Shoe Game? The Homecoming game? Three great contests that were chock-full of school spirit. I bet most of you didn’t answer with the wrestling senior night, girls basketball vs. Soledad, or girls soccer vs. York. Now why is that?

Even though every game is announced on the bulletin and during morning announcements, many sports go underappreciated. Football is far and away the most popular sport in the USA, and that is aptly represented here at PGHS, but support for other popular sports is rare. Basketball and Baseball are #2 and #3, but save the Carmel game this year, basketball’s student section has seemed rather empty. Baseball generally draws an audience, but in recent years it’s pulling more parents than students ready to support the Breakers. 

I’m not just highlighting the emptiness of sports games because I personally enjoy them (I do), but many of our teams are winning in exciting fashion. In Fall, a cross country runner qualified for state, girls tennis won PCAL matches, and volleyball made CCS. Even though they’re in progress, boys and girls soccer are both boasting impressive records this season too. Clearly, the Breakers are not getting the attention they deserve from students for how successful they are. 

Now I could provide plenty of objective reasons for why we should all be cheering in the stands at soccer games and jumping up from the bleachers at basketball, but why should you really go? 

First off, no matter who you are at PGHS, whether you love music, dance, art, reading, classes, hanging out with friends, a club—you have a group. Sports teams are the same way. Wouldn’t you be grateful if everyone at the school came out to support you doing what you love? I know I want the whole school reading The NewsBreaker and attending jazz concerts. Helping build the culture of support and appreciation for groups you aren’t a part of benefits everyone. When the boys soccer team comes out to support the girls game before them, the girls stick around to repay the favor. Everyone wins if you show some support.

Second, it has a large impact on the games themselves. Players are there to win, and to perform. No DJ wants an empty club, and no team wants an empty arena. Fans (students especially) give teams their home field advantage, a mental bonus, and the stadium pulse. Pointing to a packed student section after a kill in volleyball, an ace in tennis, or penalty in soccer gets you a lot more fired up than kids and adults you don’t know. It also gives the teams the encouragement they may need to get through tough games. 

Maybe you don’t go to these games because you don’t know much about the sport or don’t know anyone who’s going. That’s fair, but going to these games is a great way to make new friends and connect with people you usually wouldn’t. Personally, I’ve attended a game or match for nearly every sports team at PGHS, and I’ve gotten closer with a lot of people because of it. And I bet I’d be pretty hard pressed to find someone who says they regret going to games and meeting new people.

Even if none of these reasons resonated with you, give it a shot. Go cheer on a new team you know nothing about; bring friends; scream when the Breakers score; tell the players how well they did. Both you and the team will be better for it, trust me.