It was the third quarter of the Southeast vs. East game. The score was 6-0 East, LSE was down and it was their ball. They whipped out a three-man weave play, tossing it through East’s defense, confusing them with every lob pass thrown. On the third lob, Jampe Gergen (12) threw a sleek pass to wide open Isaac Appleget (11) for a touchdown. The student section went wild in excitement.

Sports are a big part of the high school experience, and the student section is a big part of sports. The student section has the ability to change the atmosphere and energy of the game. They get in the heads of the opponent and rally up the players. The student section helps players perform better, senior athletes Cassie Nash, Grant Detlefsen and Lexi Long all agree.

“They are honestly apart of the team, they get the team going and round up, the game is  more exciting and I really do feel like the team plays better with the student section there,” said Detlefsen, who is the kicker for the football team.

According to Psychology Today, teams with higher fan attendance have a higher winning percentage. Big crowds give players adrenaline rushes, and the best athletes know how to block out the sound of the crowd but absorb the energy the crowd is producing.

“During actual plays I can’t hear them at all, it’s all a fog, but during dead balls I can definitely hear them,” said Nash, who is a starter on the Girls Basketball team.

Southeast’s student section brings an energetic atmosphere to every game, but there are some places where improvement needs to happen. There is a big difference in attendance between boys and girls sports. Southeast needs to improve on supporting more sports other than just football and boys basketball. Come out and show some love to your female athletes.

“It’s obvious that people like to watch football, volleyball and boys basketball. [But] five, maybe nine people show up at a Girls Basketball game,” said Murphy Grealish (12), who also participates in Varsity Girls Basketball and is a member of the Dedicated Fans’ Association (DFA).

Southeast has a great all-around, athletic program, and all the sports deserve some love. “The main thing we need to work on is supporting every sport. I think that the school and DFA has done a better job promoting other sports but they need to do a better job actually showing up,” said Lexi Long (12), Varsity Volleyball player.

Another thing that needs to change is underclassmen standing in the front of the student section. Gabe Rendel (11) agrees. “I hate it, it should never happen and I don’t know why it is happening so much this year. Personally, I want to tell them to move back but they don’t listen.”

No matter where a student stands they energy needs to be brought.

“If you want to be (fan)tastic, no pun intended, you need to be loud and bring energy,” said Girls Varsity Basketball player and DFA member, Meg Hatfield (12).

There are a lot of different types of fans, and Southeast’s student section is a whole different breed.  

“I think that without a doubt LSE has the best student section ever,” said Rendel (11), with confidence.

But being a fan at Southeast comes with expectations. Fans at LSE are expected to always be supportive for the team, win or lose. They have to have the ability to focus on the team participating and not on themselves, create a positive and energetic atmosphere and include everyone and every sport.

“I think the students get really excited about participating in certain events and they really do bring good energy and dress the same [to the games set themes]. I think it is exciting anytime students can get together and create an atmosphere like they do… they are encouraging their teams and that is fantastic. The more people the merrier,” said former LSE Girls Basketball Coach and current Assistant Athletic Director Kara Graham.

Lincoln Southeast has a lot of tradition and it is shown on the field, court and in the crowd. “K freakin’ P bro,” said Grealish.