Students show their support

If you have attended high school athletic events in the past year you may have noticed how loyal the students at Hartselle High are to their school teams.  If you want to get fired up on a fall Friday afternoon, stop by the high school around 2:25 p.m. and visit the Pettey Center.  You will see 900 students dancing, yelling, cheering, and having a great time.
For the players it has to be a great feeling to know that the student body is behind them. . .Skip down about three and one- half hours and move to J.P. Cain Stadium and the student section is standing room only for the game.
In fact the student section usually stays on their feet for the entire game.  By the time the clock runs out many of the students have lost their voice due the amount of cheering that has gone on.  Even when the games are on the road and  one to two hours away the student section is always full and the enthusiasm is still in full force.
Of course it would be easy to say that only takes place during football season.  But it follows on into basketball season.  On a recent Friday night game the student section was in full force against a local rival.  The students’ encouragement was still strong even when it was obvious that the score was not going to be in Hartselle’s favor.  The students could be out anywhere on this weekend night but they were at the gym supporting their friends on the court.
Moving into baseball season the crowd might be smaller but the cold temperatures are enough to keep all but the parents away.  However, when the weather breaks and spring roll, closer you will see a line of pickup trucks along the outfield fence and there the student section continues to pull for their team.
As a parent it makes you proud to see young people supporting their school, having a good time and cheering the team on.  On very few occasions does a competing school have a larger student section than the kids from Hartselle High, on the road or at home.  Way to go guys and thanks for the memories.