Fall is a wonderful time of the year. It’s a time for blankets, sweatshirts, and bonfires. It’s time for the days to get cooler and the nights to get longer. And—finally— it’s a time for football.

But it’s not just football season, is it? It’s boys soccer season. And volleyball season. And girls tennis and golf. Don’t forget cross-country.

I am in no way disrespecting or disregarding the amount of work and practice the football team puts in every day. Their practices are about as intense as they come. I know I wouldn’t be able to survive even one, let alone four months of them. I have total and complete respect and awe for everything they do.

But to say that other teams don’t work as hard as they do would be blasphemy. And doesn’t a team who puts in three hours of practice everyday after school, deserve to be supported? Doesn’t a team who sheds blood, sweat, and tears for the ability to represent this school deserve a crowd? Doesn’t a team that copes with the difficult task of managing school, work, their sport, and more… deserve some recognition?

It’s my senior year, and I can honestly say that in my four years as a BVNW student, I haven’t been to one tennis match or cross-country meet. I can count on one hand the number of volleyball games I’ve been too. But the number of football games? Basketball games? Soccer games, too? That number is much larger.

Admittedly, who doesn’t love a Friday night at the DAC? Watching our boys in purple streak through the tunnel and onto the field, rearing to take on their opponent. Who doesn’t love that atmosphere? It’s a magical moment, and one that’s difficult to duplicate anywhere else. Ask any one of the players, they love it too. Who wouldn’t? It’s a chance to show off what you’ve worked so hard on in front of your peers. It’s an opportunity to compete in front of all your friends and fans. Don’t all athletes who work so hard, who put in so much time and effort, deserve to have that moment?

Last year, BVNW received the sportsmanship award at the basketball state tournament. Our school undoubtedly has one of the best student sections in the state, and anyone who denies it is delusional. It’s time to expand on that.

I’m not saying attend every volleyball game religiously, but I can’t think of one guy who wouldn’t want to go watch a game—if for nothing else—for the spandex.  You’re not required to be at every cross-country meet at 8 o’clock in the morning, but I’m saying it wouldn’t kill you to go to one. Grab some friends and hit the tennis courts to watch our lady huskies do work against BVN. It wouldn’t hurt to ask a golfer how their season is going, and attempt to get out to watch an hour or two of their next tournament.

Let’s take advantage of this new school year and become known as the school who shows up for all sports, not just one or two a season. Anyone who works as hard as our athletes do deserves to be supported and encouraged. It doesn’t have to be an ordeal. Grab some good friends, go buy some good food, and have a good time cheering on your fellow Huskies. And who knows? I might see you there.