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Read about current students’ opinions about support for women’s sports on
Students notice lack of support in women’s sports
Editor-in-Chief Jackson Parks
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Students have noticed a difference in crowd size and support between men’s and women’s sports.
Whether it be empty stands, sexist comments or a lack of support for women’s sports, there is a divide in support between men’s and women’s sports.
Senior Hannah Heimann, who has played volleyball for all four years of high school, has noticed a lack of support for women’s sports.
“I definitely have seen the difference between the support and hype between men’s and women’s sports. As a female athlete, I have noticed the big lack of support throughout the years in comparison to men’s. Not as many students show interest in women’s sports as per their own opinions,” Heimann said.
Heimann continued, “The attendance has been weak for girls’ sports for years. There used to be a big support [for women’s sports], but it somehow has trickled off. Women’s sports do not have the same support as men’s, and that is really needed.”
Activities director Jerry Collins does agree that there is a difference in crowd support between men’s and women’s sports. However, an issue of crowd support is not an administrative problem, but it falls on students.
“As far as do people come to games differently, we would like them to. If you come to a game, it seemingly appears that there are more people at boys’ games than girls’ games, not always but typically. I don’t really have a good answer for why that is. There’s probably a lot of societal reasons or whatever may be the case. It’s obviously something that we’d like to see different, but I don’t know that it’s anything that we’re doing that’s not allowing that,” Collins said.
Efforts have been made in promotion to increase crowd support for women’s games by administration, such as T-shirts, donated tickets or even dance clinics. “Promotionally, I don’t think there’s a difference. I mean, we have the same number of games. We try to run the games the same way, whether it’s soccer, track, basketball, whatever. I think administratively we make every effort to support them equally,” Collins said about any possible difference in pro- motion.
Collins continued, “We try to promote them, we have their games at the same time. We try to d o
pro motional things, like
they both usually have elementary days for basketball for example. We try to find ways for more people to come to their games. We have some games together, having the dance clinic at a girls game, and at that girls game there were a lot of people. It was one of the biggest crowds of the year for a girls’ game because we did that extra event with it. There are ways we can help encourage that and promote the attendance of the girls games.”
More than just student athletes have noticed the divide in support for men’s and women’s sports.
Senior cheerleader Lillie Torbit has noticed a divide in support through cheering at games.
“I can personally see the divide in support by just attendance at games. When I cheer for a girls’ basketball game, there won’t even be a student section. Last Saturday on the 5th, it was apparent with the double headers. There was clearly more support in the student section and stands for the boys’ game which happened after the girls’ game,” Torbit said. Varsity cheerleaders are required to go to all Varsity basketball games. Like other students, Torbit has overheard sexist remarks or excuses against women’s’ sports. “They [female athletes] are putting in the effort too, and it’s not being recognized because ‘it’s not entertaining’ or ‘the girls don’t get thrown around as much as the boys.’ These are all excuses I’ve heard as to why people don’t want to show up, and I’ve heard way more than just these two,” Torbit explained. Women’s’ Varsity basketball captain Ellie Paloucek has seen a divide firsthand. “I think there is a divide in women’s and men’s sports, even in high school. For example, the boys keep track of all their wins on a big sign in Roberts
Students notice lack of support in women’s sports
Gym, and girls’ basketball has nothing like that. Also, the boys have a contract with Nike, and the girls benefit from that too, but we get less apparel (shoes) than the boys’ team does,” Paloucek said.
There is no concrete difference in budget between men’s and women’s sports teams. Rather, budgets are determined by a need basis from year to year. Some years things such as uniforms, balls or other equipment may be added to a team’s budget. There is no enforced divide in budget between men’s and women’s teams.
Paloucek noted the lack of crowd support at women’s’ basketball games.
“Our student sections are barely a thing at girls’ games, unless the boys have a game after us,” Paloucek added.
Senior Chloe Hagemann, who is a Varsity swimmer, said, “There is no doubt that there is a divide between attendance at men’s versus women’s sport events. I think that it is completely ridiculous that people disregard women’s sports, when the girls’ teams are often just as good, if not better than the men’s teams, no offense.”
Hagemann mentioned specifics she’s seen in lack of support for women’s’ sports at WGHS.
“I mean, people only really came to one girls’ volleyball game. I heard basically nothing about girls’ tennis until they did so well at Districts and made it to State. The girls’ golf and swim teams also had amazing seasons, making it to State and having some amazing performances that didn’t get nearly as much attendance as, say, the football team or boys’ soccer,” Hagemann said.
“The girls’ basketball team only started to get attention when they got into the bigger games and tournaments, and even then there is double the amount of spectators at the boys’ games,” Hagemann said. “I think the school can do a better job of promoting women’s sports, and the students need to step up and realize that they should be supporting everyone whenever they can.” Senior Varsity cheer captain Gigi Tetley has noticed a lack of support for women’s sports through cheerleading, similar to Torbit. “I’ve especially noticed it [lack of support for women’s sports] through basketball games and playing lacrosse. I see that not a lot of people come to the women’s games, even though they are just as entertaining or even more entertaining
to watch. I don’t
think that men’s sports should get any more or less attention, but I think that they should be equal because they are both just as fun to watch and play,” Tetley said.
Senior Margot Siener, who plays Varsity swim and lacrosse, said, “I think there is a major divide between men’s and women’s sports. I think there has always been a fight for more equality within sports, and when it comes to support women definitely have less. This is evident in all of society but essentially at Webster. For example, when boys’ basketball is often close to sold out and the girls are not near that.” “I think it is unfair that not as many people support women’s sports. Many fans are unaware of the talent Webster’s girls teams have. It is hard perform ing to your best when you know your school is not there to support
you,” Siener said.
Senior Varsity basketball player Sophia Nittinger has played all four years of high school.
“Since both the boys’ team and the girls’ team are both good, you would expect similar amounts of people at games. With COVID protocols lifted, a regular season home girls’ game mostly has parents in attendance. Meanwhile for boys, there are always outside supporters and a student sec- tion at boys’ games. I do understand men’s sports are more widely watched and appreciated and bring in more money like NFL and NBA corporations, but at the high school level, basketball at Webster, girls are lucky to have students in attendance,” Nittinger said. “Over four years on Varsity, I’ve seen the difference in attendance between girls basketball games and boys. I think with the girls’ team success in the past year we should have more people at our games,” Nittinger said.
Art by Sadie Coalier
Photo by Emily Goben
Sophomore Gianni Ferentinos steals the ball and dribbles down the court during the State championship game against Helias Catholic on March 19. Statesmen won 72-53.
Statesmen win 2022 Show-Me Showdown
News/Opinion Editor Emily Goben
Statesmen men’s basketball won the 2022 Show-Me Showdown, the State championship tournament for Missouri. This is the team’s third State title in six years.
The Statesmen defeated two-time defending State champion Cardinal Ritter with a close 60-57 win in the Semifinals, followed by a confident 72-53 win against Helias Catholic.
“I feel like the team played with a mindset that we’re not leaving Springfield without a State championship trophy with us,” senior and co-captain Ethan Chartrand wrote. This is the fifth State championship trophy awarded to WGHS men’s basketball.
“Sometimes as a coach you just have a good feeling and by Saturday at noon I had that feeling. I was trying to stay focused but could just tell in my gut that this group was on a mission to finish,” head coach Justin Mathes wrote.
Chartrand said that the reason the team won is because they just kept playing, no matter the score.
“When it was the fourth quarter and we were winning by a good amount, no one had the mindset that the game was over, and our team played until the final buzzer, and that’s why we won State!” Chartrand wrote.
Sophomore Gianni Ferentinos emphasized the sacrifices that everyone on the team made - junior Jalen Purvey accepting the role of the sixth man, Chartrand guarding the opposing team’s best player every game and many team members sharing the ball, court and limelight despite their individual talent.
“I had to accept my role to space the floor and shoot when I’m open even though I definitely wanted to do more than that. That’s what it takes to win. Sacrifice for the greater good,” Ferentinos said.
“A lot of teams don’t want to do the little things that matter - diving on the floor, taking charges, playing hard - and that’s something we take pride in and represent,” sophomore Iziah Purvey wrote.
One thing that Purvey didn’t mention is the importance of good communication in a game like basketball, which is a skill that seems to occur naturally between Chartrand and Purvey. The two have an uncanny sense of when a pass is coming from the other, and the teamwork between these two has earned the Statesmen countless layups and three point shots this season.
“It’s not just that we won it, it’s how we won it. We were tougher and more together. We always talk about TTW (toughest team wins) and this group lived up to that mantra. We were undersized all year and overcame it by outworking teams and being more physical. This team consistently showed the ability to rise to a challenge,” Mathes wrote.
This is Mathes’ first State championship trophy as head coach. He coached this team to a victory in just three years as head coach, setting a new record for Statesmen men’s basketball.
“My favorite stat of the season was that Matt Enright, our leading scorer, had zero points at halftime of the state championship and we were up by 23 points. It just shows how balanced this team was and how it was a total team-effort,” Mathes wrote.
The balanced nature of the team and the teamwork mentioned by Mathes led to a natural connection and common goal for all the players.
“Having a picture of how special our team is in Robert’s forever has been all of our goals since the beginning. The bond we have formed through all the adversity goes far beyond basketball, and that is what makes this moment so sweet,” senior and co-captain Matt Enright said.
News/Opinion Editor Emily Goben
After a difficult 55-42 loss to the unbeatable communication, defensive power and drive of Whitfield, the WGHS women’s basketball team made a comeback, defeating Smithville 54-33 and securing third place in the 2022 Show-Me Showdown.
The Show-Me Showdown is the annual Missouri state championship tournament, and was held at Missouri State University’s JQH Arena March 18 and 19.
“Playing for third place isn’t exactly what we wanted, but ending my basketball career on a win totally makes up for it, and seeing the boys win was super special, too,” senior Ellie Paloucek said.
Paloucek won the single game scoring record for Webster Groves at the ShowMe Showdown with 27 points.
Head coach Joshua Spuhl had a similar sentiment to Paloucek.
“I feel good about how we played Saturday. The team was able to show how we can really play and end the season on a win,” Spuhl said.
Unlike most teams that weekend, the most tear-jerking part was not the awards ceremony at the end - it was when senior Jenna Clark, who had surgery on her ACL just a few weeks ago, scored the first basket of the game.
Clark, who has played on Varsity since freshman year, tore her ACL in February. For anyone else, this would have been the devastating end of a career. However, Clark’s positive attitude, unmatched drive and dedication to her team kept her motivated, and she acted as a mentor and role model for underclassmen on her team.
Smithville agreed to exchange basket’s at the beginning of the game, allowing the Statesmen to win the jump ball and pass to Clark, who was waiting by the net to score. Webster then allowed Smithville a layup, evening the score back out, and Clark returned to the bench amidst hugs from her coaches and teammates.
“It brought tears to my eyes. Jenna is the sweetest, most humble, poised and positive kid you will meet. She has been the team captain and her injury happened right before playoffs started. She has a full ride golf scholarship to Maryville, straight A’s, and more faith in her little finger than I do in my 54 years of life,” team parent Tracy Paloucek said.
“The moment was definitely bittersweet. I was more nervous than any game I have played before because I did not know what to expect. At first, I did not want to do it because the pain of putting that jersey on again after weeks of accepting that I would not play again was going to be very hard. Now, I am incredibly thankful I did because being with my senior starters one last time was exactly what I needed to end my basketball career,” Clark wrote.
Photo by Emily Goben
Senior Ellie Paloucek dribbles past opposing Whitfield players during the 2022 Show-Me Showdown on March 18.
Despite the tough competition in the semifinal game, the team quite literally played until the final second, with freshman Emery McReynolds scoring a three point buzzer beater.
“These games are something special to be a part of because only a small amount of high school students get to experience going to state. I love every bit even though the girls team didn’t finish exactly how we wanted to. It is a memory that I will always hold on to and look back on,” senior Eliza Maupin said. Maupin will be continuing her basketball career at Kansas State University next year.
Letter to the Editor: Chelsea Center offers learning opportunities
Established in 2010 at Webster Groves High School, the Chelsea Center is unique in American education in offering specific, targeted resources and a three-part structured process to help students find and/or pursue their passions outside the regular classroom through experiential learning.
We all have many experiences in our lives, with family and friends, inside and outside of school, but we rarely stop to consider what we might learn from all these experiences – learn about ourselves and learn about the community and environment in which we live. The Chelsea Center helps establish and facilitate this learning process.
Students may pursue their interests through job shadowing, internships, part-time employment, volunteering and traveling. The Center offers a myriad of already developed experiential opportunities and also works with students who have specific interests they may wish to develop. Are you going to mentor or tutor students in WGSD for A+ hours or have a part-time job? Or travel with family or a school group? Why not sign up with the Chelsea Center, learn from this experience, and earn academic credit for the learning that occurs?
College applications and prospective employers want to know what you have DONE while in high school, beyond the classes you have taken and the grades you received. The Chelsea Center can help you build a stronger resume to effectively present yourself.
Stop by the Chelsea Center, room 200, to find out how you may take advantage of this underutilized WGHS resource – either over the summer or during the academic year.
