They’re FANS?

Honorable Mention

Editorial/Column

Division 3

They’re FANS?

Jen Dunkelberger

Grade 12

E-Town ExPRESSion

Elizabethtown HS

Adviser: Michele Cekovsky Henry

I have been a sports fan my entire 17 years of life, and for nine of them I have been an athlete. My parents, grandparents, and siblings have supported my teams no matter our record or skill. They were always intense and I could hear them cheering even if my softball team was down by 10 runs or my basketball team was losing by 25.

This year was my final experience as a Lady Bear basketball player. I was the only senior on the team, along with two juniors and three sophomores. But the additional players that the team acquired is what everyone noticed.

We had 10 freshmen on the team this year. That’s basically unheard of.

Before the season even started, we heard the comments about our team constantly. Everywhere we turned there was a hurtful remark.

“Are you guys even going to win one game this year?”

“I hope you don’t expect to do well this season.”

“No offense, but you guys aren’t going to be very good”

“Don’t worry Jen. Softball is right around the corner.”

I got sick of hearing them, Coach Pericci got sick of hearing them, and I know the other girls did as well.

It wasn’t like that two years ago, when the girls’ team made it to Districts and States. The Giant Center, which holds nearly 10,000 people and is about 20 minutes away, was filled with jubilant, screaming fans. Now, two years later, Daubert Gymnasium, which holds nearly 2,000 people and is in practically most student’s backyards, was a “ghost town” on a game night.

When a team is winning, it likes to have that support system. But if ever there was a time our team need that support, it was this year when we were struggling. But when we looked up from the bench, we saw no one except the freshmen fans, who were there almost every game. Our parents and a few teachers were the only constant supporters from school.

Two things hurt the most. People said these things to our faces, but then when they saw we were visibly upset, then would say they were only kidding. But I knew they weren’t joking, just trying to cheer us up. Afterwards, they would say we would pull out a win next time.

How about instead of people running their mouths and pretending they know anything about the girls playing, they go and actually watch? But people didn’t do that. They just assumed we were horrible. I’ll admit we had some rough games, but a record doesn’t mean anything when compared to the heart of the team.

Since it was my last year playing high school sports, I realize how important basketball is to me. I’m sure the rest of the senior athletes feel the same way about the sport that they play.

In short, people will say they are big supporters and come to watch until you start losing, then their attendance changes... their commentary changes.

I learned so many things from this basketball season. I learned you can’t just depend on skill to achieve success, and there are definitely more important things than the number of losses and wins. But most of all, I learned who are true supporters are.