Owl Nation stirs up some excitement for the winter athletic season with Winter Whiteout
Stephen Trinkwald
Equinox Staff
Winter sports season is in full swing, and the Keene State College Super Fan club Owl Nation recently held Hootie’s Winter Whiteout to showcase teams and student organizations, show support and display school spirit on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Owl Nation President Hannah Gawrys said she thought the event was a success, but she wants to continue to increase support for KSC athletics.
“We want to get more school spirit here, so getting them here and getting them to come is kind of our goal. We want to show the athletes that we are here and we are trying to support them and do what we can for them to get people to their games,” Gawrys said.
While past years had Midnight Madness focusing on the basketball team, students and student athletes alike said they were glad that the Winter Whiteout had a wider focus.
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Gawrys said while the event does not match up to past Midnight Madness events. She said it’s important to include more than just the basketball team.
“We don’t have the budget to do a million different things, we don’t have the resources. We are expanding it to other sports so we try to encourage more of those kind of games and stuff,” Gawrys said.
KSC sophomore Sean Ballard said he’s also glad that Hootie’s Winter Whiteout had a broader emphasis.
“I’m glad they incorporated organizations too and not just sports teams,” Ballard said.
KSC senior women’s basketball player Siobhan Carnell said that events like this are important in bringing the campus community together, and while she enjoyed Midnight Madness, she’s glad more teams got to be involved in the event.
“I liked Midnight Madness a little better, but it’s good that they included all the winter sports teams,” Carnell said.
Carnell’s teammate, junior Brianna McCain, said events like this are important for raising awareness to what’s going on campus.
“I think it’s a good way to put all the teams together and show them off, and then also get people to come to their games hopefully, which is what we want,” McCain said.
McCain added, “I just think it’s good to show some support for all the teams, hopefully get some more people into the gym supporting us and our season.”
KSC senior Erin Zoellick said Midnight Madness had an advantage due to when it was held, and said that the Whiteout’s timing may have worked to its disadvantage, a reason why people may have headed for the exits early.
“Midnight Madness was on the weekend, which was helpful, people just knew about it more… maybe because it’s a Tuesday and people have homework and stuff. Some people always think they have something better to be at,” Zoellick said.
Zoellick said reputation is also a possible cause.
“I think because it’s called something different… But people knew Midnight Madness like you go, it’s always a lot of people, you win a ton of prizes and stuff. So I think once they get it rolling I think it will be successful in the future, because I mean it was the same kind of idea,” Zoellick said.
While Owl Nation aims to increase enthusiasm towards athletics, Ballard said Owl Nation has already done a good job in increasing school spirit since he’s been here.
“I’ve definitely gone to more athletic events and things just because Owl Nation told me to go and told me that it would be fun. So I think it has definitely improved within the last year that I’ve been here,” Ballard said.
KSC sophomore Ryan Mahan said that Owl Nation has played a large part in increasing enthusiasm around campus.
“I know before I was really paying attention to what Owl Nation was doing the only way you knew a game was going on was if you checked outside the gym at that bi-fold sandwich board. But now with Facebook and Twitter you know games are coming up, you know who is playing and against what team in what sport. I think they’re doing a really good job with that, spreading out all the school spirit with all the sports,” Mahan said.
KSC freshman men’s basketball player Nate Howard said support from their fellow students helps players’ and teams’ performances.
“When we get a lot of people to the games, it really helps us and the team, I think, play better when you’ve got the crowd behind you,” Howard said.
Gawrys said she wants to show how fun being an active member of the KSC community and participating in events like these, as well as going to games, can be.
“Getting the whole community to get together, celebrating one thing, showing school spirit, we want school spirit back here, we want to show games could be so much fun if people were there cheering and having fun,” Gawrys said.
Owl Nation can be reached on Facebook on the Owl Nation page or on Twitter @Owl_Nation.
The KSC basketball teams set to open their schedule on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16.
Stephen Trinkwald can be contacted
at strinkwald@keene-equinox.com