12 Blueprint
SPORTS
Feb. 5, 2015
DGS talks privilege and popularity of its vario us s po r ts By Joe Stellato, Editor-of-Chief Print In the fall, Friday night lights illuminate the football field as the stands are filled to the brink with screaming fans celebrating the team’s latest trip to the end zone. In the winter, the main gymnasium is filled with pandemonium, blaring a bellowed roar from the crowd across the basketball hardwood after the ball swishes through the rim, catching only nylon of the net. Varsity football and boys varsity basketball are two sports that are seated atop the world of DGS sports, attracting the most fans, gaining the most revenue and standing as the most popular sports at the school. There are over 30 other athletic teams at DGS that the school offers to students to DGS students cheer on the varsity boys basketball team as they take on Proviso East. participate in and spectate. Photo by Clarissa Moreno that’s most popular and the ones people Despite the large variety of sports, would want to go spend their money Kristopher Olson denies any sort of priit’s apparent that most of the students on,” Finley said. oritization of sports. However, he does concentrate only on the major sports DGS does, however, try to bring believe the reason for high attendance when it boils down to popularity, crowd crowds into sporting events that may at basketball games is because of the attendance and overall significance. not have as many in their fan sections. qualities basketball has to offer and the Head varsity track Coach Dustin Junior Maddie Manganiello is a part of sport’s ability to promote itself. Hausherr believes that societal, econom- the girls varsity track team and is also “It’s a long history of success that the ic and cultural values are what make involved in clubs at DGS that promote basketball program has had… It’s an certain sports more or less popular than students to attend events to fill those exciting sport, with all of the athleticism others. stands. and the pace of play, so I think that’s “Overall, you look at society in gen“ACE and SuperFans make sure that fun. We don’t really compete with any eral. You look at the athletics out there in order to stay in the club you have to other sports in the winter season as at the professional level, and of course go to one of the pack the places for the well. Wrestling does very well as well, your money makers are football, basless popular sports. They make sure but in terms of fans...winning, success ketball, baseball… high school students people do come, which is really nice,” and playing hard brings a crowd,” Olson are going to replicate what’s going on in Manganiello said. said. “It’s not priority, it’s more about society… especially at the high school Assistant Athletics Director Ellen crowd management.” level, I think it’s a cultural thing… If I O’Brien also ensures that the athletic Although success can reel in a fan want people to respect my sport, [track department promotes teams as much base, senior boys varsity tennis player and field], I have to put the work in to as they can. But, the overall attention Andrew Garcia sees otherwise. The boys make it a reputable sport and [prove] brought to some sports is mainly based varsity tennis team finished fourth as it’s not just ‘run fast, turn left’,” Haushon how many fans are in attendance. a team in IHSA competition last year, err said. “We feel all the teams are important, but Garcia still doesn’t seem to see Junior Juankeem Finley is one of the and we try to recognize all the teams as much growth in the sport’s popularity. captains of the boys varsity track team. best as we can,” O’Brien said. “However, He appreciates the support the school He stands in agreement with his coach the popularity as far as who goes to provides for the team and doesn’t allow that culture and money have a signifiwhat contest have a lot to do with how social perceptions of his sport interfere cant impact on the team’s placement of we supervise the contest, and what’s with doing what he enjoys. importance. available to them.” “I think there are sports that people “ I don’t think it’s by which team is Head boys varsity basketball Coach care more about. I don’t think my sport more important, I feel as if it’s the team
really falls under [popular sports], but we still get a lot of funding from the school and everything. We are able to go to tournaments in St. Louis,” Garcia said. “I really don’t listen to stereotypes or anything. People say tennis isn’t a sport, but I don’t really care what they say. They can think what they want. I play it, I like it, so I’m going to do me.” O’Brien doesn’t see inequity among any of the athletics programs at DGS and ensures that those in charge do their best to maintain equality. “I don’t think there’s anyone more privileged than anyone else… Nobody gets priority as far as that. We try to keep it as equal as we can,” O’Brien said. “We offer them the opportunities to compete; we have coaches for them; we give them opportunities for games and meets… They all have the equal opportunity to practice. We try and make sure their practice facilities are the same and equal opportunity in access to them.” Even though there is not an official list of priorities, senior boys’ varsity basketball player Jahleel Smith sees specific sports being emphasized more than others. “I think they do prioritize sports, football being our most popular sport, obviously, and basketball being the second,” Smith said. “I believe basketball is more appreciated than football… there’s more people at football, but basketball I feel like it’s louder and everybody is closer together in the crowd...way more spirit in basketball. In football there are themes...I feel like more people wear that theme at basketball games.” Also, in regards to basketball being a sport that can be seen as more privileged than other sports, Smith offers a different point of view. He claims that the team had to earn their respect and execute on the court to prove they are not the same team as last year. “I think we are less privileged because everybody looks at us, and they probably judge us based off our season last year. We don’t really have much room to trash talk or whatever,” Smith said. Contact Joe at jste1881@csd99.org
DGS track female throwers toss away stereotypes By Grace Chaplin, Opinions Editor Every sport has had their fair share of stereotypes that have seemed to die down as the years have gone by, but the stereotypes associated with female throwers are still very prevalent in the world of high school sports today. Masculine, strong and lazy are just three of the words that may come to mind when a lot Junior Shana Johnson lifting a tire to strenghten her arms. of people think Photo by Jared Burrow about female throwers; however, the to overcome them. few DGS female throwers are ready According to new head coach of the
track staff this season, Nicole Sanders, the degrading stereotypes hurt recruitment for the throwers. “It’s really hard to get girls into the throwing program because they don’t want to fall into the stereotypes of being strong and manly,” Sanders said. There are only four girls who are throwers on the DGS track team. “I think everyone just automatically thinks they just lift. No one really knows how much work and technique goes along with training to be a good thrower,” Sanders said. Junior Shana Johnson is a thrower who is well aware of the stereotypes that go hand in hand with her sport. “Everyone thinks we just lift weights, don’t run, are strong and are just really lazy,” Johnson said. The girls have to overcome many obstacles both physically and mentally to be successful in this sport. They don’t feel that they are as supported or as understood as the other events
on the girls track team. Sophomore thrower Devryn Coulam explains what really goes down in a typical throwing practice. “Typical practices are that we warm up with the sprinters by doing some laps around the track then some exercises to warm up. After warm up we separate by events and we usually do weight lifting or work on throwing skills and explosive workouts, like tire flips or box jumps,” Coulam said. Both Johnson and Coulam want students and teachers at DGS to have a positive outlook on girl throwers and to ultimately look beyond the stereotypes that come along with it. “The reality is that it’s really hard. There’s so much more to it than everyone thinks. I think it’s really important to not knock anything until you try it,” Johnson said. Contact Grace at gcha0641@csd99.org