The Student News Site of Mount Vernon High School

The Mustang Moon

The Student News Site of Mount Vernon High School

The Mustang Moon

The Student News Site of Mount Vernon High School

The Mustang Moon

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Fear The Herd

By Isabella Squiers

In the gym of the Mount Vernon High School, the walls are covered with accomplishments in the arena. For being such a small town, it is one of the greatest feelings to have achieved so many opportunities such as going to state or to be conference champs. Over the years, the number of students attending school sporting events has increased rapidly especially with the school record in volleyball and football and many other sports. On a recent email survey distributed to students in late October, students were asked what sports they like to watch and cheer for. The results weren’t out of the ordinary. Football won as the favorite fall sport to watch, boys basketball won for winter, girls track won for spring, and baseball for summer.

Sophomore Anna Nydegger is known for always cheering loudly in the student section at football games. “The Mustangs are the best team in the world,” said Anna. Every Friday Anna puts on her superfan shirt for Zach Baker, who is a starting player on the football team. The feeling of football season is the best: the excitement of the game where everyone in town comes together to support friends and family. Right as she gets to the football game she meets up with friends and urgently goes over to the student section, which is always packed. “The people are what make football games memorable,” said Nydegger. Like a herd of wild mustangs, the football boys surge the field and ready to play football.

Even more than the excitement of the beginning of the game, Nydegger enjoys the competition. “And in that moment of silence right before the Mustangs are going to score, everyone is silent… then touchdown,” said Nydegger.  After two quarters have passed, the Mount Vernon Marching Mustangs put on another amazing halftime performance and blow everyone away. Nydegger and all the students are ready to win. “The best feeling is when everyone swarms the field after a win and play the song ‘Sweet Caroline,’” said Nydegger. Even though this season didn’t end the way the students wanted to, Nydegger and everyone else are glad to be a Mustang.

Anna Nydegger sitting with her friend Annalise Harp at a home football game 

As winter rolls by so does basketball season. Paige Beck, along with the other basketball cheerleaders, prepare for the game. After she arrives at the school she puts on her uniform along with some makeup and begins to stretch and practice stunts with everyone else. The cheerleaders only cheer at the home games so when they do, they sometimes perform at halftime. “The stunts are one of the most exciting parts about cheering at the game,” said Beck. As the game begins Beck and the rest of the cheerleaders are ready for action. Everything about the game is fast-paced, even the student section. By being cheerleaders for the boys basketball team, it has allowed Beck and the other girls to fully understand what is going on. Even by not paying attention for a few seconds something major could be missed, as Beck would know. “Funny enough, instead of paying attention to what was going on in the game, I turned away to look at the student section and got smacked in the face with the ball in front of everyone,” said Beck. The laughter and the memories are what make basketball season so special to Paige Beck.

Girls cheerleading performing a half time performance at a home boys basketball game

It is often thought that students cheer on sports that they don’t participate in but that isn’t the case for junior, Caroline See. Being born to run, See has grown up always being around the track. Her love for running never dies, and every year she falls in love over and over. As spring came around See also participated in track and field for the girls. Even though there’s a lot of love doesn’t mean there can’t be times of pain. “I understand the pain they’re going through, and all the training it took to get that one good time in that one race,” said See. From being on the team, See is close with the whole team including other girls from other schools. From inside the oval, See cheers on other girls running, competing for the win. With the help of See and other students and parents cheering, the runners speed up falling after crossing the finish line. “It is so inspiring to see with just the smallest act of cheering someone on can make a very big impact,” said See. At the end of a meet is one of the most intense races, the 4 by 4-meter relay. Mount Vernon always puts together an amazing team for the 4 by 4 so everyone knows it’s going to be a good one. When the race is neck and neck, See goes nuts and so does everyone else. When the girls and boys have a combined meet, both Mount Vernon teams put their hands down low and shake them saying “ahhh”. As the runners run by they swipe their hands horizontally saying “swoosh”. It’s always hard to have the season end but there is always a next time.

Caroline See runs a race at an away meet

Summer is the time of freedom of not having school but is also the best time of the year for baseball athletes. Being a four-sport athlete, Logan Griebel’s summers are a little different than other students. Every morning in the summer, Griebel and the rest of the baseball boys get ready to go to practice. “You feel like a family with the team, you become very close spending so much time together,” said Griebel. No matter how hard the practice is or how much they don’t want to be there, they always encourage each other to do better. The sound of the scourging heat on the baseball field is music to their ears. Right before the game, the coach gives a few words and then “play ball”. As Mount Vernon is up to bat first, Griebel is ready to take the dub. Everyone breaks into silence as Griebel is up to bat and then “smack”, the ball goes flying and everyone in the stands looks in astonishment as the ball soars through the air. “It’s the best feeling ever,” said Griebel. The noise of the rest of his teammates cheering him on is exhilarating. No matter if it is a win or loss, they are glad to be a team. The summer is never wasted.

Logan Griebel waiting on deck to go bat at a home baseball game

Sports are a part of an American culture and a tradition that everyone looks forward to. No matter if an athlete or a musician or anything else, sports will always remain a big part of lives. What is your favorite sport to watch?

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