By Katie Schmitt
With the Oyster River High School boys varsity soccer team taking home the Division II title Saturday, November 7th, against the Portsmouth Clippers, the team thought that would be their last game of the season. Until an unanticipated proposal was put forth by none other than the ORHS superfans.
Photo Credit: Lexi Nash
The Oyster River High School boys will finish their season as they compete against the super fans Tuesday, November 10th at 3:00 PM. Let’s see if the boys can maintain their winning streak, or if the super fans will compromise that stretch.
“My definition of a superfan is one who attends most every sporting event regardless of how good that team is. Also, they have to show a lot of school spirit and dedication,” says Ryan Coxen (17’), member of the super fan crew.
The “super fan crew” originated at the beginning of the soccer season, when a group of students decided this was the year to show our bobcat pride. Since then, the group of students accumulated, and so did their team support. Each game it was expected to see a group of about 22 boys decked out in both blue and white, equipped with blow horns, flags, and even trombones.
“I think they [super fans] have a fairly significant impact on our performance,” says Mitchell Harling, senior at ORHS as well as one of three of the captains on the boy’s varsity team. “They remind us that there are other people then just our teammates that care about our success.”
“Even when the games were away, we could still count on the super fans to come cheer us on. Especially when we played rival teams they came to support the team,” says Westley Landry-Murphy, (17’) member of the boys varsity team.
The super fan crew has contributed immensely to the cheering that goes on during the games.
Having fans there to support the team contributes to the exciting atmosphere and environment. The fan support accumulated throughout the season, and most of it was influenced by the liveliness of the super fan crew.
“The fans help people get energized during the game and it gets in the other team’s heads, affecting the other team and how they play,” says Griffin Luczek (16’), another captain’s of the ORHS boys varsity team.
“Since we may, or may not, have referee the game will be very physical and we think we can win the physical battle,” says Coxen. “The game is really just for fun, more like a scrimmage. We’re just trying to have some fun.”
The super fan crew is still anticipating a close game, considering that most of the super fans have previously played soccer.
“Honestly I think that super fans as a whole think we can win, but that’s just the mentality of the group. We are a bunch of competitive guys. I think we actually do have a chance of competing with the boys team. What we may lack in organizing will definitely be made up in by competitiveness,” says Kevin Kerrigan (16’), another originator of the super fan crew.
The game between the super fans and the varsity boys will have to go without the fan considering they will be busy participating in the game. Throughout the season the fans have been there to cheer on the boys no matter what the circumstance. The boys varsity team was able to maintain a “winning streak” while they played at home. The team kept a consistent record and didn’t lose on their home field.
The super fan crew consists of mostly seniors, but that doesn’t stop their team spirit from carrying on to next year.
Colin Runk, senior at ORHS and one of the originators of the super fan crew mentions, “There will always be a super fan crew. Each senior has the responsibility of choosing an underclassman to replace them at the end of this year. While the crew will remain for a long time, it will never be the same as it was this year,”