What would a Gustie sporting event be without its cheering section? Fans have always been a key part of any Gustie sporting event, providing encouragement and celebration for every play of the game.

“Having fans is a great advantage whenever we play. When other teams come to Gustavus, the fans definitely have an impact on the game. They bring extra energy and help us when we need to get a stop on defense or convert on the offensive end,” Junior Basketball Guard Chris Narum said.

Super fans are the ones that keep the energy and momentum of the crowd alive. They are the ones who start the slow clap of the rouser and show up decked out in some type of black and gold gear. They are also the ones you see at every match or game, a dedication to the team and Gustavus that is something to aspire to.

“Having the support of fans makes a substantial difference in our performance. We feed off the energy from all the cheering the fans bring–especially on floor. It’s so much more fun and less intimidating to perform in front of the fans because we know they’ll always have our backs. This fun environment typically pushes us to perform better as a whole team,” Senior Gymnast Kalyn Botzet said.

These super fans aren’t just composed of Gustavus students or fellow teammates. Parents are often a large portion of our cheering crowd.

“We get quite a variety of fans at our meets. The first group of fans would be our parents. You can find them front and center decked out in gymnastics Gustie gear with big posters,” Junior Gymnast Rachel Dargis said.

Anyone can be a super fan. All you need is the energy to give to the team and the charisma to unite your fellow cheering section together.

“The final group of fans we have are our wonderful painters. These guys bring a lot of energy into our gym and we absolutely love their school and gymnastics spirit. Having fans in the gym always helps us compete to the best of our abilities. It is our time to show them what we’ve got and how far we’ve come for the season,” Dargis said.

Grab your best yellow costume or Gustavus gear and make a sign for a favorite teammate and head out to the game, match, or meet. Even though cheering is expected and encouraged, make sure you are still being respectful to the teams playing.

“I do think someone snuck a whistle in once this year which made things a little tricky,” Junior Hockey defensemen Sam Smith said.

All Gustavus sports teams can always use more super fans at their competitions. It’s important that students go out and show their support, while still having fun and cheering on the teams. Most importantly, if you want to start the slow clap, make sure you know the beginning of the Rouser:

C’mon, you Gusties, Fight on! Fight on! Shout out the battle cry of victory!

-Erika Clifton