Sports at Stanislaus State: Is there enough school spirit?

Warrior sports games are still filled with the usual entourage of supporting family members, friends and coaches. However, some students and athletes think that the student body has lost its school spirit. Athletes who attend California State University, Stanislaus strive to improve the way they play. Hours upon hours of practice and hard work are required for the athletes to represent the school to the fullest.

Unlike the high-energy pep rallies, packed stadiums and painted banners of high school, school spirit is fairly tepid at this university.

"School spirit helps give more support to the athletes. The more support and enthusiasm there is, the more energized athletes will feel helping them to play better in order to win games," said Monica Ochoa, a second year student. "In high school everyone knew about games because they were announced and the big sporting events had rallies to follow the game."

Jorge Belmonte, a second year student and intercollegiate soccer player, agrees.

"There was more of an effort of the student body to add hype to the games which led to more support from the overall students [in high school.] Athletes try harder when representing students who support them," Belmonte said.

It appears that CSU Stanislaus students have forgotten how to cheer and support their athletes.

"Not many people show up to the games and not many events are held throughout the day to let students know how the team is doing," Belmonte said.

Belmonte believes that his fellow soccer team members deserve peer support since he and his teammates practice three times a week for about two hours a day. With all the athletes clocking in hours of practice and game time, some would think that there would be more of a positive response from the student body.

As Ochoa said, it seems as though in high school, sports and rallies were unifying events that enabled all the students to support one another. However, at CSU Stanislaus, it seems as if it is just another thing that divides everyone.

Not everyone agrees that the campus has lost its school spirit. "Lost" implies we used to have it.

"A lot of students are into attending the sporting events, and many students seem to make friends with the athletes which helps add more support," said Robyn Sahota, a second year student. "There is a lot more notice given to the sports program at CSUS than at my high school and I feel as though it's because they want to get more students involved."

Elenna Gardner, a second year student, agrees.

"I believe they do support us. You can tell by the amount of people who show up to our events. For example, a lot of people have been showing up to our basketball games this past season," Gardner said. "And once the track stadium is done, I know that we should have a lot more school spirit."

Gardner, who is currently on the track and field team, practices five days a week for about two hours a day. Even after all that, she and her teammates are still expected to go to the gym and weight train. However, all that work seems to pay off when the athletes can hear cheering sounds coming from the student body.

"Hearing people cheering you gives you that much more adrenaline to kill the race and win. It's good to hear cheering," Gardner said.

Whether a student believes that there is enough student body support or not,it never hurts to go out and support one's athletes.

"We need to support our teams much more, like at the basketball games. They never really sell out and you never really see that big crowd of people going crazy for their team," said Freddy Rodriguez, a first year student.

Perhaps, as time goes by, the students of CSU Stanislaus will be able to take more time out of their busy schedules to support the athletes at athletic events. Having more students attend the sporting events will not only help boost school spirit, but also help boost up the spirits of CSU Stanislaus' athletes.