MANSFIELD, Ohio – There are a notable number of student sections in north central Ohio that pride themselves on school spirit.
The best of them offer antics and energy that can sometimes rival the action on the court.
Tonight and Wednesday night is a chance to see a few examples when the Richland Source NOL-OCC Challenge takes place at Lexington High School.
Ontario is one of the schools participating, and its famed O-Zone is led this year by seniors Kidron Stamper and Luke Gorbett. The two students were handpicked by previous O-Zone leaders to carry on the tradition, then formally elected by their peers in mock elections run by senior government classes.
“Ever since the beginning of last year they said they were going to pick me because I was at every single game anyway, whether I was carpooling or driving myself, because I liked being at football games,” Stamper said. “You’re only in high school for four years, you might as well go to everything you can while you’re still a student.”
Gorbett has a similar philosophy.
“We both like sports and we knew we’d want to go to the games, so we figured if we’re going to be there why not be the leader and be the voice for the student body?” Gorbett noted. “We also wanted to make some changes.”
Gorbett said the O-Zone has done away with the “membership” aspect of the group; previously students had to purchase a membership “card” to be a part of the cheering section, and membership included a t-shirt and free admittance to some games. This year, in an effort to have more students involved, Stamper and Gorbett opened up membership to everyone.
“If you go to Ontario, you’re a member of the O-Zone,” Gorbett said. “Our main job now is to come to the games, support, make up cheers and try to get people excited for the game and promote it.”
Across the court, taking on the O-Zone in Wednesday night’s finale will be Lexington’s Purple Haze, led by seniors Connor Baughman, Jonah Yaussy and Chris Cochenour. The Purple Haze got an adrenaline shot with the arrival of Cochenour from Columbus to Lexington two years ago.
“I was the new guy, new faces and new people all around me,” Cochenour said. “I ended up going to a volleyball game and that was pretty hype, and I went to a basketball game later in the season and noticed it wasn’t as hype. So I started posting on social media for people to come to the game.
“As my friend group expanded and as I went to more games, I noticed people were actually following me and doing chants with me, and before I knew it we had a packed student section. It’s gone up tremendously, and it’s awesome to see it.”
Both the O-Zone and the Purple Haze leaders utilize their Twitter accounts to the fullest when organizing their troops – Ontario with @WarriorOzone and Lexington with @PurpleHazeLHS. Often times the leaders will pick themes including superheroes, whiteouts and blackouts, and even beach themes.
“If we didn’t have Twitter, no one would know what the themes are and we wouldn’t look as good,” Stamper said.
“They know they can go right there and find information for the game,” Gorbett added.
A sea of 50 to 100 students dressed up in beach attire may seem silly, but if you ask the players on the court, it makes a difference.
“It changes the way you play,” Cochenour said. “It’s just different to see the kids you go to school with every day cheering for you, when you get down and you can hear the stands roaring for you it gives you a boost you need.”
Ultimately, whether a member of the O-Zone or the Purple Haze, that’s what it’s all about – showing pride in the school, and coming together as a student body.
“My big thing is I want to be remembered as the person who cared,” Stamper said. “I want people to remember that their student section in high school was so loud; it’s better than just students coming to a game and sitting or complaining about how our team is playing. It’s better to go and have fun at the games.”
“It’s for the athletes too, all the time in practice and offseason they put in, they deserve that student body to be there and show we’re supporting them and have their back,” Gorbett said.
Cochenour believes student sections are also about pride in a person’s hometown.
“Our time here is limited, some of us have grown up here our whole lives and if that’s your way of showing your pride for your city then so be it,” he said. “Really what I wish I could pass down is us coming together as one and showing pride in our city, and getting the kids that are playing to know that they’re not alone and we’ll be right in the game with them.”
