Going to sporting events and being in the student section is a huge part of high school and the Shorewood community. But some students you can hear above the rest, cheering for our athletes. Two of those students are Noah Alie and Maddie Costelo, two seniors that have brought all the enthusiasm this year in the student section, but with that kind of enthusiasm can come some threats from administration.
For seniors it has been a tradition like no other to stand in the front row of the student section and be the most passionate. Alie said, “last year’s seniors got me really hyped for leading the student section, especially because so many of their class participated.” For Costello, being in the student section is just a super fun experience. “Honestly, I love to yell especially at sports games. Once I start I get really into it,” Costello said, “plus being spirited is so fun and such a good way to bring the student section together.”
Costello and Alie have gone above and beyond in the student section with the outfits and even traveling all the way to places like Snohomish or Marysville-Pilchuck to cheer on the Stormways. Alie even plans to travel all the way to state tennis in Vancouver which is about three hours away. “The length doesn’t bother me as long as I have a fun person sitting in shotgun,” said Alie. Costello loves to bring the spirit with her fun costumes. “I love to pop out in different colored wigs,” Costello said.
Although there is competition on the field, there is also competition between the two student sections. “Whenever we play Edmonds Woodway or Shorecrest, the games are usually close so towards the end of the game, the student sections both get active. When we ‘battle’ with cheers towards the end of the game, it gets entertaining,” Alie said. But the student section can also just be a fun atmosphere to enjoy with friends. Costello said, “I love having fun with my classmates and making fun memories.”
Being in the student section has some risk to it though. There have been multiple occasions where students run into trouble with administration. Earlier this year Alie was restricted from all Washington Interscholastic Activities Association(WIAA) events for Shorewood for the remainder of the fall season. “I was kicked out of the girls game for yelling ‘we play soccer standing up’ when she (a Shorecrest player) tripped over her own feet,” Alie said. Even with this adversity Alie continued to cheer on the Stormrays by watching state soccer and volleyball on his phone. Alie is fed up with what he considers the administrations’ unfair, strong actions against the student section. “The admin have ruined the atmosphere of the student section and because of that, we have become afraid to cheer,” he added, “This is high school varsity sports and admin are acting like they are three years olds that can’t be chirped at… the administration talks a lot about preparing us for the real world, but then they don’t allow students to get in opponents heads like what will happen when they play collegiately.”
Costello and Alie the student section tradition will cary on. “Don’t be afraid to join in or start cheers because they’re so fun,” Costello said. Alie added, “Don’t be embarrassed to be loud and proud! Say anything and everything because the admin will get mad anyway.”
