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The Paly Voice

The Student News Site of Palo Alto High School

The Paly Voice

The Student News Site of Palo Alto High School

The Paly Voice

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The influence of spirit

It’s fourth down in a CCS quarterfinal game, and Paly is down, but not out. The team cannot afford a loss.

The opponent’s crowd yells and stomps — Paly players try to focus, to block out the distraction. Agony that is unique to sports, a mix of physical pain and competitive despair, is heavy on the hearts of some. Time is merciless here, and none of the players feel the makings of a play. Then, like a stirring volcano, a glorious anthem erupts in the stands, instilling fury and football genius in the hearts of the downtrodden competitors. It sounds something like, “Let’s go P.A. Let’s go. (clap clap).” Its epicenter is in the spirit section of the bleachers. Freed from the dreary weight of impending defeat, the Paly team seizes the moment with fiery resolve, and claims victory for the day, victory attributed to the Spirit Club. Surely it’s something like that, give or take an adjective.

With a greater turnout than ever, the Spirit Club plans to cheer and support as enthusiastically as ever, while introducing some new aspects to Paly recreation as well.

Spirit Club, which meets on Thursdays in Mrs. Hori’s room is concerned with supporting Paly athletics. “We’re focusing on football right now,” said senior Katherine Huey, the spirit commissioner. “We will also do basketball. The most important thing we do at games is organize cheers… such as, ‘Defense!’ and ‘Let’s go P.A. Let’s go!’”

This year, the Spirit Club has more members than ever. “Every time there are more people than can fit in the room,” said senior Adrian Bellomo, secretary of the Spirit Club. “There are a lot of freshman in it this year — the freshmen are really spirited.”

And the efforts of the Spirit Club to support Paly athletics are not in vain. “I think cheering definitely helps the motivation of the team,” varsity quarterback, senior Nathan Ford said. “The best memory I have this year from football is looking up at the faces in the crowd before the game starts.”

“Hearing your crowd cheering can swing the momentum of the game,” varsity football player, senior Teddy Way said, “just like hearing the opponents’ crowd cheering.”

In addition to vocally supporting athletics, the Spirit Club engages in a variety of other activities. According to Michelle Giddins, the President of the club: “We pass out either free or cheap things at the games, and we have pom-poms. They also founded intramural dodge ball, which has yet to have its first game. “People just need to show up,” Huey said.

"A problem with any club is keeping the students interested," Hori said. "Intramural sports are a good way to do that. Last year there was spike fest during the spring… this year there’s dodgeball. We’re planning on having some more in the future, such as powderpuff football.’

“Spirit club is excellent,” said Hori, who was one of the original founders of the club. “The club came from a goal from the Camp Anytown fo 1999. Peter Depenbrock, Lee Cambra and I were trying to find a way to make school sprit more unified.” In the year 2000, Spirit Club was finally realized.

“It’s good to support our athletics teams,” Bellomo said, “and school spirit is cool.” For anyone who is interested in Spirit club, go and check them out at lunch in Mrs. Hori’s room.

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