In recent years, GA’s Athletic Department has increased efforts to create school spirit centered around sports teams. Leading the charge is Mr. Tim Ginter, the head of the department. School spirit is a key part of strengthening the GA community, which brings people together to support the school. Additionally, creating school spirit is vital to the high school experience.
“I think it’s such a huge part of the high school experience,” Mr. Ginter said. “Like going out and supporting each other in various events.”
Not only is school spirit great for the high school experience, but it also creates enduring memories for alumni that will stay with them long after graduation.
“School spirit creates things that you will remember with your friends long after your high school experience is over.” Mr Ginter said.
Ultimately, Mr. Ginter’s main goal is to create that long-lasting moment for a team or a player.
“I would like to create a way so that at least once a season, everyone gets that one big night, one spike in attendance,” Mr. Ginter said. “That would just create a little more juice for the team.”
During COVID-19, GA saw a decrease in student turnout to sporting events.
“During Covid, school spirit went down, but it’s on the way back up,” Superfan Madison Destefano ‘24 said.
Since school spirit is so important to the GA community, Mr. Ginter and the Athletic Department have been working hard to increase it recently. They have put a lot of thought into it but have not found a way to drastically improve school spirit yet.
“This place is unique in that I feel like there’s a desire,” Mr. Ginter said. “But we haven’t been able to crack the code, so to speak, to where everyone gets a taste of it.”
Although there has not been a breakthrough yet, there have been improvements. For example, throughout the fall season, there were a handful of successful attempts at increasing school spirit and student turnout for specific games such as the Under the Lights Games, Volleyball’s Dig Pink, and PAISSA championship games.
When asked about the department’s success in the fall season, “It’s easy to point to the night game. And maybe that is, maybe that is the cheat code, right? Maybe it’s getting events scheduled later in the day so that more kids can go,” Mr. Ginter said. “Maybe that is the cheat code: getting events scheduled later. So kids can go to a club, do their homework, meet with a teacher, and go to practice, and there’s still time left to go to that game.”
In addition to the Athletics Department, the Superfans work hard to increase attendance at sporting events, such as creating themes and generating excitement in school. So far, they have successfully gotten many students out to games.
“I’d say the GA Under the Lights weekend, we got so many people out for the football game, and also the soccer game, and then honestly yesterday the volleyball PAISSA championship game, so it was very exciting,” Superfan Izzy Casey ‘24 said.
Looking forward, there are going to be more efforts to create an atmosphere conducive to school spirit. Whether it will be through small things like creating a connection between GA athletics and the newly named Griswald gym, the Gris, or big events like Ginny Hoffman Day and the Make a Wish tournament, the Athletic Department seems to have a plan for the future.
“Is there a way to create some kind of connection to the Gris? Maybe we can make connections to different sports with Make a Wish,” Mr. Ginter said. “Or create multiple layers for the spring to tie GH 44 into having a night game.”
Something to look forward to in the winter season is the Make a Wish tournament.
“I’m looking forward to Make a Wish. I think it’s one of the most fun sporting events,” Casey said.
When asked how individual students can increase school spirit, “I think all it takes is one person in one friend group that helps get everyone else to go, and it just builds the popularity and population of events,” Destefano said.
Ultimately, school spirit is integral to the GA community and culture. It means a lot to students and athletes alike. The fall season saw some successes in increasing school spirit that the administration and students hope can be carried out through the rest of the year.