MUSTANG MANIA. “And here’s the thing about arena sports - it’s not just how good you are at the game. It’s about how good you are at feeling the crowd when they are with you and ignoring the crowd when they are not,” a quote from American author, Taylor Jenkins Reid. The number of fans in the crowd at sports events can be extremely impactful on not only the players, but also the game’s outcome. According to Inner Drive Company, an athlete's effort increases significantly when there is the support of a large crowd.
When asked her opinion on having a large, supportive crowd during the basketball game, athlete Hailey Stoudt responds, “It is always a fun environment to be in and it certainly gets you excited.” In order to show support for their mustangs, Valley Heights students have taken this information into consideration and created themes for each high school basketball game. January 5th- Dress as your Mom or Dad, January 9th- Rhyme Without Reason, January 23rd- Frat Night, February 2nd- Pajama Day, February 9th- Camouflage, and February 13th- Cupid/Valentines. Themes for the student section not only heightens the performance of players, but also makes more people want to come to the games. Head basketball coach, Drew Honas says, “The team just plays better, and the atmosphere of the game is all around more fun when the crowd is loud and active!”
Article by Chad Bargdill