Student section during the blackout football game. Photo Credits: Watauga Yearbook
Abigail Clark, staff member of The Powderhorn
Friday night football games are a favorite tradition for many students at Watauga High School. Staying in the fun-filled student section dressed from head to toe in the game's theme has become an honorary tradition. Recently, however, the student section has become overcrowded to the point that pushing and shoving have become a safety issue. After a student ended up with a sprained ankle, others are questioning whether staying in the student section poses a risk for attendees.
During the Homecoming football game, junior Jiada Ballard was standing in the student section when the pushing caused her to lose her balance and fall off the bleachers, landing hard on the ground.
“I got pushed by the other side of my row, and I hit my head on the railing,” Ballard said. “My piercing got ripped out, and my ankle got stuck under the step and got twisted and pulled. I had to wear a boot at Homecoming, and that was not that fun.”
Ballard wasn’t the only one affected by the pushing and shoving. Other students around her also had complaints.
“I was disgusted, to say the least,” said Macie Kent, a junior who was also present during the time of the incident. “There was no reason for it. We were having a good time, and they ruined it.”
Students expressed concern to administration regarding the student section at football games.
“The size of the student section is super full, and it has been really cool to see all of the students engaged, but we get concerned about the safety of students because everybody tries to cram into that section,” said Assistant Principal Ashley Winkler. “We’ve seen pushing, and we have to go in at times and try to get to the 'root' of the pushing. It is difficult, especially if the student is in the middle of a row.”
Administration has attempted to expand the student section, but most students remain unaware of these changes.
“For the Homecoming game, we decided to tape off an area to expand [the student section],” said Winkler. “I don’t believe we did a great job of sharing that we expanded it.”
In the future, administration plans to make this expansion more of a priority and ensure better communication with students.
“Administration needs to make safety a priority at the football games but still let us have fun in the student section,” said Kent.
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