"Cheer Loud, or Go Home"

Student section leader Preston Kincaid (12) helps lead students in Blitz 5 pregame festivities before the Homecoming matchup against Winton Woods. / Ashley Huebner | Photo Editor 

By Natalie Feldkamp | Senior Staff Writer

October 10, 2023

Listening to Rihanna is the best way to get hyped up before a football game, according to three of Anderson High School's 2023 football student section leaders. Andrew Patterson, Kailey Strausbaugh, and Preston Kincaid all individually decided Rihanna songs are the best for building up the adrenaline on game days. Though the three leaders agreed on Rihanna's songs, they all had different insights to offer. 

The section leaders this year are used to being pushed back to the fourth or fifth row in the student section, but this year is different. The student section this school year is led by Patterson, Strausbaugh, and Kincaid, as well as Jarrett Lindsey (12), Brooke Calder (12), Cameron Shelton (12), and Jack Barnhill (12). 

“[I get] to be in front to actually watch the games and not be blocked by people,” Patterson (12) said. 

He enjoys finally being up front to see all of the excitement firsthand and seeing everyone show up decked out in their school spirit to support the Raptors. He also thinks it is fun to see everyone go all out on a theme that changes every Friday.

“Coming up with the themes and seeing them executed throughout the student section is my favorite part, [but also] cheering to 'Boogie Down' because it's fun to get everyone involved,” Strausbaugh (12) said. 

There are many fun themes this year but one of Strausbaugh's favorites is the Superhero theme, because she has an outfit already planned. Strausbaugh loves watching all of the spirit throughout the student section and seeing all of the students boogie down every Friday night.

“I love being a section leader so I can [go] all in on the themes and show my school spirit. [I’m most excited for] white-out because it's going to look awesome [at] Turpin,” Kincaid (12) said. 

All three student section leaders shared that the best pieces of advice to share with students is "to show up, and be loud!"