Birth of the OZONE

A cheering crowd (at a Highlands Middle School basketball game) was so loud spectators could barely think. This was one of the first times that Highlands had seen a student section quite like this. In the middle of all the cheering fans, was a group of energized 8th graders leading the charge. One of the 8th graders was Rob Peterman, a founder of the Highlands OZONE. The birth of the OZONE was marked by a transition from a traditional student fan section into an all-out spirit-infused posse of decorated, coordinated, prop-wielding super-fans on a mission to energize their Bluebird team.  

The OZONE was started by a group of 8th graders back in 2000. When it began, they went to cheer on their friends, (including Isaac Scherrer) who played for the Middle School basketball team. Because football was Scherrer’s main sport he brought that football mentality to the basketball court. Every time he got rough with his defense or shoved someone, Peterman and his friends would dramatically shout an elongated, “OoOHHhh!”

They didn’t think of calling themselves “The OZONE” until one day in art class. The student section had started to pick up, a lot, and the group wanted a creative name for it. They sat in class trying to figure it out when suddenly a clever classmate, Luke Boehne, who was sitting at the next table, came up with a suggestion. “What about the OZONE?” The group liked the name, since it reflected their shouting “OHHHH,” whenever a Highlands player made a bold move, and the rest is history.

The OZONE idea was born in Peterman’s 8th grade year, but it didn’t become an “official” group until two years later, when they got seriously organized about supporting the Highlands basketball team.  This successful team was led by Ross Neltner (who is a former Mr. Kentucky basketball) and Kevin Gilles.

The OZONE soon became a very popular Highlands tradition, with students from every grade joining the festivities. Early on, the OZONE mainly supported the boys’ basketball team that was ranked 2nd in state, and the women’s’ soccer team which was also very good. Peterman and most of the other OZONE leaders played football, so they couldn’t organize a student section while they played, but if the game was important, students would show up no matter what sport it was. 

On game days, loads of OZONE members flocked to the Peterman household, typically arriving 2 hours before gametime to hang out, paint faces, put on costumes, and eat pizza. Rob Peterman's mom bought face paints, costumes, and all kinds of props for all the kids to use while cheering for Highlands.  Ozone members dress up in their own unique, eye-catching ways. From wearing suits or customized shirts, to even covering their whole bodies with face paint! There were a lot of funny things to try while showing some school spirit and cheering on their team. Then after the fun of prepping, the decked-out group marched to Highlands and chanted the whole way there to get fired up and ready for a good game. 

Highlands boys’ basketball played many big games during this era, one of the most notable was a big rivalry game. In the Kentucky regional basketball tournament Newport Central Catholic had to play Highlands on their home turf. For a game this big the OZONE had to show out. Everyone met at Peterman’s house to prepare just like usual, except this time no one knew what time they should leave for the game. Thus, everyone left early, so early, in fact, that they got there before the NCC team. The group was in the stands waiting to heckle the NCC team as the players walked into the gym.