Fans flocking to cheer on MHS football team

School spirit soars at Manville

By: Mary Ellen Zangara
   Blue and Gold, signs, painted faces and lots of noise!
   That’s what people see and hear when they go to a Manville High School football game this season. The enthusiasm and support has been growing each week as the Mustangs improve their record.
   After Friday night’s win, the Mustangs are 4-0 for the first time in 38 years. There has not been this type of spirit for the team in a long time.
   This program certainly has endured its share of losing seasons. The fans have often become desperate for a win saying things like "I think we need to have a séance so we can help the team." It was tough trying to keep the spirit going when the team was always losing.
   But today that is a completely different story. Each week the crowd has been getting larger. The fans are coming dressed in blue and gold, students are holding many signs like "D" and a picket fence, for defense, and the other MHS athletes are coming out in support of the football team.
   The top left corner of the stands is filled with students chanting "Defense", "Let’s go Mustangs" and "Warm up the bus." The home side stands are getting packed, students in the far left, parents in the middle and the band in the far right with many others filling in wherever they can find a seat.
   While the fans are filling the stands, the fence along the field is also getting packed for standing room only. Up and down the fence, there is not a spot open. Young and old are coming to see the Mustangs play.
   Many alumni are coming back to watch the games. Younger children are coming and it’s been quite a spirit thing. Girls are painting their faces half blue and half gold, tying ribbons in their hair and wearing football player’s numbers and jerseys.
   Sandy Rock, sister of the Rock brothers Tommy and Brian, supports both of them my having each of their numbers, 20 and 32, painted on each of her cheeks with the blue and gold.
   The fans are starting their own chants when not following the MHS cheerleaders. Manville’s cheerleaders keep the fans going and the band has played the alma mater so many times recently after every touch down. They play throughout the whole game in support of the team.
   The community has been coming out to support the team as well. Recently, Father Bogie of Sacred Heart Church came to see the team play. This was his first time watching the Mustangs and he came out to support the team. Many others are coming too, including senior citizens, teachers and staff and the young MYAL football players.
   Many of this year’s Mustangs played for the MYAL and now they are some of the stars on the high school field. Senior quarterback Mike Knitowski is thrilled to see all the support.
   "There is a lot of hype in the stands right now with everyone just going to the games and supporting us because we are actually having a winning season," Knitowski said.
   Pat Horner, another senior, is glad to see all the support coming from everyone.
   "We dedicate all of our wins to the 12th man, the fans," Horner said. "All the people painting their faces, all the girls making signs, the band and the girls wearing our jerseys."
   The team starts getting fired-up before the end of the school day.
   "Every Friday the last period of the day, we have a march around the school where the band leads all the fall sports so we can get pumped up for the game," Horner said.
   Senior Kyle Sopko was happy that teacher Mr. McMahon went to his first game in eight years.
   As they look into the stands, the players see blue and gold, signs, painted faces, and from the scoreboard all the way to the hut, all the people along the fence.
   "It’s crazy," Knitowski said. "Everybody is yelling to you, it’s a lot of fun. The fans are the 12th man. There are 11 people on the field and the fans make it so much better."
   The Mustangs will play two games on the road sandwiched around a bye to start October. The team’s final home game is Oct. 27 at 7:00 p.m. against Belvidere. Everyone is invited to come and cheer on the Mustangs with even more spirit.
   "It’s a lot of fun, it’s great," Knitowski said. "It’s like the old days. The boys are back in town, that’s what it is."