Ray Lewis’ pre-game pump-up dances have become very popular; Lewis will storm out onto the field while “Hot in Here” by Nelly blares over the Ravens’ PA system.  This phenomenon has moved down from the pros and has made a huge impact on the sports at Staples.

Each team listens to its own distinct type of music, and the music played in practice is even more diverse.  Teams listen to music in order to get the players more excited for practice or a game.

“The basketball team’s music varies from practice to the game,” said Ross Whelan ’13, a member of the boys’ basketball team.

Whelan says the basketball team relies heavily on the iPod of captain Peter Rankowitz ’13, during practice. Whelan says Rankowitz’s iPod “consists of Katy Perry, Ke$ha, and Maroon 5.”

The trend of captains choosing the music during practice is widespread throughout many of the sports at Staples.  The girls’ basketball captains also decide what music is played before games.

Erica Stein ’13, captain of the girls’ basketball team, says, “I wouldn’t really say we have a team anthem, but the song we run out onto the court at a beginning of a game is ‘Bring ‘Em Out’ by T.I.”

The boys’ basketball team and football team also each come out to a specific song.  For the boys’ basketball team it is, according to Whelan, “Real Estate” by Wiz Khalifa and for football either “Hell’s Bells” or “Thunderstruck” both performed by AC/DC.

Richie Eldh ’13, a member of the football teams, says he plays “meathead music” before games to help get everyone pumped up.  He says the bands on his iPod include Metallica, Slipknot, and Disturbed.

“We listen to reasonable music, and then in the last 10 minutes [before a game] we listen to ridiculous music really loud,” he said.

Eldh says this “ridiculous music” isn’t always played in the locker room, just merely right before games in order to get the team even more fired up.

Ruben Guardado ’14 feels that it is almost impossible to pinpoint one song that the wrestling team listens to most.

“It’s really hard because there such a variety of people on the team so we don’t really have one unique song for the whole team, it’s a mix.

Though the seniors are in charge of the music most of the time the underclassmen are accepting of the choice and grow to appreciate the music that the captains choose.

When asked what he thinks about the playlist created by the captains of his team Nicho Ader ‘15 feels that their playlist is “pretty fresh.”

With the revolution that has occurred in music, according to Whelan, it has become almost a necessity for a team to be playing music during practice and before games.  Whelan says music is so important because “it makes people more motivated and hyped to practice.”