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Superfans Support Boys’ Soccer Team to Regular, Postseason Success

On a brisk Oct. 29 autumn night, Staples fans all dressed in white filled the bleachers of Norwalk High School’s Testa Field to cheer on and support a team that, by the end of the night, would become FCIAC divisional champions.Though the team would not continue on to win the state championship, the support for the boys’ soccer team this fall has helped propel them during their season.

“Everyone was all in white, all going nuts. It was unbelievable,” said midfielder Brendan Lesch ’11.

Staples Superfans organized a whiteout for the FCIAC divisional championship, which was designed to pump up and show the school’s support for the team as they battled the defending champions, Greenwich, for the title.

“When we were down 1-0, they cheered for us, and we gave [our fans] the win,” said forward Jairo Alvarado ’09.

This support was seen as early as the team’s first preseason match where about 20 students including Kyle Debussey ’09, Dan Nallen ’09, Will McCambley ’09, J.J. Goddu ’09, Nick Weir ’09 and Antoine Weir ’11 attended the game. According to Nick Weir, these fans made a pact to go to every game after that to support and show their love for the team.

“A couple of people came to the games at the beginning of the season and it just caught on and more people started going to the games,” said Debussey.

The support that Staples’ fans have shown has made them widely accepted by the boys’ soccer team. Throughout the team’s season, Superfans have cheered, and their energy supported the team on the field. “[Superfans] are awesome. A lot of teams call their fans the 12th man, we call our fans the 12th through 1000th man,” said Coach Dan Woog.

Superfans have been a tremendous source of energy for the soccer team this season. Many argue that if it was not for the Superfans who attended the team’s games, the team would not been successful as it was this season. “Every single member of the team plays better [when the Superfans are there],” said Alvarado. “We have the spirit to give them a show.”

“I think they’re great,” said Lesch. “They are a huge part of our success this season and the team loves them.”

When goals are scored, Superfans will typically cheer out the name of the player who scored the goal or they will chant “RATTLED” to get intimidate the other team. A fan favorite of the crowd is chanting an “olé” cheer after goals are scored for the Staples team. “Once we score a goal, they help keep up our momentum,” said defender Steven Denowitz ’11.

The creation of the Superfan organization began with the high enthusiasm of the senior class. “We became Superfans thinking we could help [the team] and give them more emotion,” said Debussey.

Students ordered customized shirts for Superfans to help unite the school in support of the Superfan movement. “It was a unifying aspect for Superfans,” said Nick Weir.

Over 250 students ordered shirts and many students wore them to the team’s semifinal match on Nov. 11 against second seed Glastonbury. Woog supplied two buses to allow as many fans as possible to attend the game in New Britain.

“[The buses] were very helpful because many people went to the game that couldn’t have normally gone [without a fan bus],” said Nick Weir. About 90 Superfans rode the buses to join the students who drove to the game.

“It was a long trip and we still got a lot of fans,” said tri-captain defender Frankie Rende ’09. “I’m impressed that so many people made the trip up [to New Britain] for us.”

Though the game site was supposed to be neutral, the fact that New Britain is only 20 minutes away from Glastonbury was beneficial to the large turnout of Glastonbury fans.

Debussey hopes that Superfans will continue to support other Staples teams. “We are going to be very big at basketball, hockey, and volleyball games,” he said. “It’s been fun and a great experience. I hope [the Superfan movement] continues throughout all the sports.”

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    JaneeceNov 13, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    I cannot tell a lie, that rellay helped.

    Reply