By Logan Shea, Joey Meats
SEATTLE- Last Friday, for O'Dea, there wasn't just a victory on the scoresheet, there was one in the stands as well. It was evident to anyone in attendance that the Irish had strong support, with students filling the seats at West Seattle Stadium dressed in black attire, participating in chants, and playfully taunting the Eastside Catholic Crusaders' players and their student section. Throughout the game, it was clear that the student sections were influencing the outcome.
The loud chants of the Irish while Eastside Catholic was on offense helped disrupt the communication of the coaches and players and ultimately slowed down their offense. With Eastside never finding their offensive rhythm and the Irish capitalizing on opportunities, O'Dea secured a convincing 16-7 victory, which was more lopsided than the scoreboard reflects. This win allowed the Irish to advance to a 4-0 record for the season.
A significant portion of this hot start can be attributed to the Fighting Irish student section, which has turned up in impressive numbers and spirit, reminiscent of the pre-COVID era.
To gain insights into this remarkable student section, we decided to interview senior leader Robert Foisy to understand what makes the student section so essential to him.
"The student section is crucial to me because it's a time to be with my brothers and cheer for O'Dea," he emphasized. He went on to mention how the initial years were disrupted by the pandemic, and in his final year, he is determined to be as enthusiastic as possible. He approaches the student section with the same dedication as the players approach the games.
"We're unlike any other school because of our unrivaled rowdiness, and the game is just as vital to us as it is to the football team," he explained. Despite being a smaller school, O'Dea always boasts the most spirited fan base, staying true to the school's motto of "Strength in Brotherhood."
It was evident during the interview with Robbie that spirit and rowdiness are paramount to him while in the student section.
"The best part about the student section is the energy and rowdiness."
With the exceptional start to the season that O'Dea is experiencing, it appears that the Irish student section will maintain its fervor, hoping to propel the football team to a State Championship with their unwavering support.
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