Editorial: Changes in athletic department should be augmented by student enthusiasm

It’s hard not to notice the changes being made in the St. Paul Academy and Summit School Athletic Department. With new gym floors, a new Spartan logo, new coaches, and new athletes, the school’s sports programs have all the components needed for success.  The question now is whether the student body is ready to deliver on their promises of support.

But still, the shiny new gym floor is only one step in creating a new and improved sports program. This new identity can only be achieved with involved, excited fans. An empty gym, glossy and new as it may be, is still an empty one, no matter how well the players perform.

The lack of student involvement may be because sports have never been highly prioritized by the student population; SPA’s athletics have never been its selling point. This is not to say SPA is not strong in terms of the teams and coaches themselves, but sports aren’t the reason most students come here. Because SPA has always valued academics before athletics, those who aren’t involved in athletics tend not to take much notice of them.

Students, teachers and coaches all look forward to a strong year for sports. With a large influx of freshmen joining teams and strong varsity players, SPA sports teams are gaining momentum.

The Athletic and Communicatons Departments have ramped up news about the Spartan teams and players, and the student activities group Spartan Boosters have helped give athletics their fair share of the community spotlight.

But they can’t do it alone.  It is up to the student population to fill the stands with Spartan pride and support.

As a community, it is important to support the teams in every way possible.  That can be something as easy as asking players about the game score from the night before.  Of course, going out to cheer at events is always optimal.

Athletes devote countless hours on the field, court, rink pool or track.  They condition for months, often before seasons start.  It’s time to recognize the devotion many have to representing our school through athletics.

Fans: accept the responsibility of cheering on and supporting the Spartan teams.  Catch a home soccer game.  Get up early on Saturday to watch a swim meet. Spend Friday in the football stands instead of getting a jump on homework. Athletes deserve a group of fans as engaged and devoted as they are to making this year’s sports program a strong one.

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