By Grace Irwin ’18

West Essex is known for its exciting fan section at the football games, as the high school students pile onto the bleachers ready for the game. Annually, the seniors take charge and lead the underclassmen in cheers for the boys as they all watch the game. For decades, the game between James Caldwell and West Essex has been the biggest sporting event of each year.

As a return to this tradition, this year’s game was no different. With a huge win for the Knights, the stands were overflowing with excited fans. The student body came together dressed in all black and chanted cheers like the color shout and “This is our house!” along with the general cheers such as “Let’s go, Knights!” and “Here we go, defense!”

“The energy was unreal,” senior Joe Torter said. “I felt like I was at Metlife Stadium.”

The support that the West Essex community brought to the game gave a more exciting vibe as the clock counted down with such a tight score. The Knights are able to continuously dominate in games because of all the support they have behind them, including many parents, sometimes teachers and many kids from the middle school.

“The game was more exciting because of the crowd,” freshman Dylan Murphy said. “From beginning to end of the game you could only hear chanting from the bleachers.”

As a tradition at the high school, every year, the upperclassmen dress up in school colors to come support the boys the best they can. Organizing “blackouts” and “redouts” among the crowd, the student body comes out to each home game in West Essex attire. Students are very dedicated to showing their spirit, as they deck out in gear from head to toe to support the Knights.

Painting bodies with black paint, writing player’s numbers on faces, the students have made games a focal social event for the high school students. It has also become a tradition over the years that the senior girls receive black faux jerseys with the senior player of their choice’s number and last name on the back.

This year, the 2017 senior class has big shoes to fill. Last year for the opening home game, the 2016 senior class orchestrated the throwing of baby powder bombs, making for a cool visual effect.

“This year I plan on coming to as many home games as I can,” junior Evin Lathrop said.

“It’s fun watching the student section go crazy when we score a touchdown.”

The football team’s success over the past few years and legacy left by graduates in the fan section has led to a more amped student section.

“We are going to have a lot of fun in this year’s fan section,” senior Jack Delehanty said. “Our grade loves to get up for our homies on the field.”

As the season continues, many students plan on continuing to come support the Knights at the Friday night football games.

“It’s fun to watch the games with my friends and cheer with the rest of the school,” freshman Lindsay Fusco said.