On Wednesday, Feb. 22, to kick things off before the big game, Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) enticed students to its Homecoming rally by playing music and offering up free tacos for Warriors sporting red.
“I think this event is going to help build school spirit,” Marcus Curtis (senior, Business Management) said. “Our team is really close to going to the CCAA tournament. I’m really looking forward to that, and hopefully if we get enough publicity, we’ll have more people coming to the games.”
The rally was hard to miss—the whole outside of the Ed and Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena was lit by several light towers. Even with all of the activities going on, the event lacked students.
“I think with as many students as we have, there should be more people, but I feel like this is a pretty good turnout for the first hour,” Jennifer Okamoto (sophomore, Math) said.
The majority of the noise at the rally was not coming from constant chatting, but instead, consistent howling from fraternities. Greek members made themselves known by outweighing the general public’s school spirit. Regardless, there was plenty of pride to go around.
“It’s fun, you get to see everyone and maybe find a party after,” Kenny Powers (junior, Kinesiology) said. “It’s more school spirit than I have seen in previous years.”
The Homecoming game the following night, Feb. 23, was packed with excited students, parents, and fans. Cheering never stopped, and many people were shirtless (or just about) with red and yellow body paint to show their support for the basketball team. From court side to nose bleed seats, Warrior pride was everywhere.
“I have been to other games and I have never had to sit in the nose bleed sections,” Idorenyin Udoh (freshman, Psychology) said. “They have improved [the turn out] since the first game so I give them credit for that.”
The thrilling game kept the audience on the edge of their seats. It seemed like every time the Warriors scored or got the ball back, people jumped to their feet from their seats.
“It is very energetic and more people came this time,” Sabrina Chaparro (freshman, Criminal Justice) said.
A new chant started after an old one died off, and the fans got louder and louder throughout the night. The game was neck and neck, and the atmosphere was heavy and tense as both teams constantly scored points. Nonetheless, Warrior fans refused to stop cheering for their team.
“I like the student involvement, and it gives you a good feeling of being in college,” Caleb Monticalvo (junior, Business) said.
After the Warriors pulled off a win in the final minutes of the game, fans rushed the court to huddle with the victorious players. However, the night didn’t end there; the Homecoming King and Queen still had to be announced.
Mike Slinsen and Tanisha Ramirez took the crowns. Slinsen was on the shoulders of his Kappa Sigma brothers and Ramirez rejoiced with her sorority sisters.
Despite the relatively empty rally the night before, the basketball game brought a good turnout to end the final night of Homecoming Week.