By Tyler Park ’14, Staff Writer

It’s no secret that Newark Academy is known primarily as a premier academic institution. However, its athletic programs are clearly on the rise.  Athletic events across the campus are consistently drawing larger and more spirited crowds as the community has rallied behind its increasingly successful athletic program.  The two primary beneficiaries of this increase in school spirit have been the men’s and women’s soccer teams.  Bolstered by the school’s sparkling new turf field as well as intelligent schedule-making, both teams have enjoyed strong fan support as they wrap up their respective postseasons.

After a 12-10-1 regular season, the men’s team reached both the Prep Tournament finals and the North Non-Public B State Tournament finals, eventually losing both in well-fought games. This success can be attributed to a strong group of juniors and seniors, led by Nick Williams ’13, an offensive threat who averaged around a goal a game this season, and will be playing at West Point next year. Buoyed by the adrenaline rush provided by an enthusiastic Minutemen faithful, the men have had great success on their home turf, including a big win over Verona on homecoming day.  “With larger crowds, I think we play a faster-paced game because of the adrenaline,” said senior forward Lincoln Zweig.   Senior goalkeeper Matt Cowen agrees.  “We feed off of the crowd’s energy. We absolutely love when the crowd is there to support us. If someone makes a bad play, they know that the crowd will be positive and help them move forward.”

The girl’s team, who also reached the Prep finals after a great season, feels the same positive effect from the growing fan support.  “When we have larger crowds, there’s a stronger sense of unity within the team.  It helps us stay in the moment and remember that we have something to play for,” said forward Lauren Whelan ’14.  “There have definitely been more fans out this year than there have been in the past.  Our program is definitely on the rise, and as the team improves, the fan support mirrors the growth.”

The newly christened Jeff Kacur Field has also helped with fan enthusiasm.  The turf field has not only allowed for higher-quality play on the field, but for a better fan environment. Cowen, who is also a Co-President of the Red Army, echoed this sentiment, saying, “the crowd has been in a more condensed area, so it always feels like a packed house when that area is full.” This concentration of emotion amplifies the fans’ intensity and causes their emotions rise and fall seemingly as one, creating a unique and powerful environment.

First-year Athletic Director Ted Gilbreath understands the impact of larger crowds. “You can see a pretty big difference.  I think it adds a sense of urgency.  When all your friends are there, it’s easier to maintain your focus.”  Because of this, Gilbreath has tried to get as many people as possible to the games by making sure that big games are scheduled at convenient times for the student body to attend.  For example, he mentioned, “A Friday night basketball game is always going to be more well-attended than a game on Tuesday afternoon at 4 o’clock.”   Thus, the athletic department has tried to schedule games that more people can attend, including Men’s Basketball’s Season Opener at home against Millburn, at 7 o’clock on December 14.

The effort to turn out fans does not stop with the Athletic Department.  The Red Army has also tried to get more fans out to the games. The group’s leadership (which also includes Alex Mederos ’13) has become more vocal – stressing morning meeting announcements and a new Facebook page where team captains can post about results and upcoming games, or express their gratitude for recent support. Cowen, in reference to these efforts, said, “We’ll do our best to spread awareness for the big games down the road, but ultimately it’s up to the student body to support their teams.”

A mix of intelligent scheduling, Red Army commitment, and exciting teams, has bolstered fan turnout so far this year. If the support continues for the winter and spring seasons, Newark Academy’s athletes will surely reap the benefits.