With two minutes left on the clock, Staples fans are on their feet. They are all dressed in white, some sporting face or body paint, and their cheers are deafening. It’s clear that the game has got the crowd riled up – but do the fans have the same effect on the players?

The answer is an overwhelming yes. Athletes agree that having big crowds at their games leads to an overall better performance by the team.

The reasons for this are varied. For some, such as girls soccer quad-captain Abbey Lake ‘12, a big crowd provides extra motivation to play well. “The crowd cheering for our team definitely motivates us to impress our spectators because there are people watching,” she said.

Boys soccer co-captain Jake Malowitz ’12 agrees with Lake. “People have some extra motivation to perform when a couple hundred students are watching,” he said.

Malowitz and his fellow soccer co-captain James Hickok ’13 also feel that a big fan presence creates a more excited atmosphere, which pumps up the players for the game.

Hickok also views fans as a morale booster for the team. Field hockey quint-captain Emily Ashken ’12 agrees, saying that crowds “show that we have support both on and off the field, which is really nice to see.”

Furthermore, according to football tri-captain Bo Gibson ’12, a large crowd also serves as an important reminder for the players. “It helps us remember that we aren’t just playing for ourselves; we are playing for our school,” Gibson said.

The players acknowledge that fans have different tactics for supporting the team, each of which can impact the outcome of the game.

Cheering and chanting seem to be especially effective. “Staples fans are at their best when they are loud and going crazy,” said Malowitz. “There is nothing like it.”

Some feel that fans’ cheers have the most impact when they are intended to intimidate the other team. “I have specifically noticed opposing players change their entire attitudes and mentalities after being taunted by our fans,” Gibson said. This idea was echoed by soccer quad- captain Jessie Ambrose ’12, who agreed that intimidating Staples chants are an advantage because they rattle opponents.

And yet, sometimes the best way fans can show their support is by just showing up. “The turnout is definitely key,” Hickok said.

This turnout could also prove problematic. However, though many Staples athletes admit that playing in front of a large crowd can be nerve-wracking, they overall feel that this is not a significant problem. This is due in part to their coaching, since according to Gibson, the athletes are trained to perform in high-pressure situations.

The possibility for nervousness certainly does not negate the incredible impact fans have had on the outcomes of certain games. In fact, Malowitz thinks that fans were the deciding factor in close matches against Trumbull and Norwalk. Similarly, Ambrose recalled an away game at Ridgefield that the Wreckers lost in the last minute, just after their fans were removed from the stands.

Although the crowd may not be completely crucial when it comes to that final score, Staples athletes definitely still appreciate the support of their fans. “To look over on the Hill and see everyone sitting on the terrace and on the grass is the best feeling of all,” Hickock said.