Aiming to increase attendance at MVHS sports games, the MVHS Student Athletic Senate created a point system to encourage friendly competition among teams.
Points are earned when teams go to other MVHS teams’ games and take a photo to post on Instagram Stories. Once they tag the MVHS Athletics account, the senate records the points on a master spreadsheet. At the end of the season, the team with the most points earns a pizza party hosted by SAS.
According to Athletic Director and SAS Advisor Nick Bonacorsi, the point system was first introduced a few years ago with the intention of boosting game attendance , but the system was paused during COVID. This year, the system was reintroduced by SAS. Bonacorsi advises SAS, which is run by students who come up with ideas to help improve sports and spirit at MVHS.
“We were talking as the senate and trying to theorize different ways to get more fans at games, and the target area was other athletes,” Bonacorsi said. “If you play volleyball, and you’re upset that not a lot of students come to volleyball games, one way to help boost that is by taking initiative and going and supporting other teams, then hope that they come and support you on the back end.”
While Bonacorsi serves as the adviser for SAS, he believes that it’s important to make sure that the point system is run solely by students in the senate.
“The way the SAS is set up is that it’s student athlete driven,” Bonacorsi said. “I’m just an adviser. I’ll help out where I can, but it’s more meaningful if it’s coming from students and it’s coming from athletes directly, and that’s the approach I’m taking to it.”
Senior and SAS president Jenna Bergandahl has been a part of the SAS for three years. During her time in the organization, she has been trying to find ways to increase spirit and attendance at MVHS sports games. This year, it was her idea to re-pitch the point system.
“It was pretty slow-going,” Bergendahl said. “Our goal was more of keeping people informed on the point system and trying to see improvement in turnout at games.”
The SAS encourages teams to participate in this challenge through a meeting with sports captains toward the beginning of the year, trying to keep them informed and giving updates of the points scored throughout the season.
Junior, Varsity Flag Football captain and SAS member Allie Rummelhoff, who participated in the challenge with her team, believes it brought more spirit to the athletics community at MVHS. She remembers a time from last year when student attendance greatly benefited the Varsity Boys Volleyball team in a NorCal playoff game.
“They were up against a higher ranked team, and they were bound to lose just by the record,” Rummelhoff said. “We had a huge crowd out and there was a lot of excitement and spirit, and I think that’s part of the reason they did so well in that game — because there was a lot of motivation, and it brought a bunch of spirit and hype. It really pushed them to do really well.”
According to Bergendahl, although there has been an increase in attendance, the point system has room for improvement, with the clear problem of athletes going to games only for photos and leaving later on. The first season of the point system shows that changes need to be made. Despite this, the improvement in attendance is noticeable and the SAS remains optimistic about the future. Overall, captains supported the point system and the motive it was created for.
“I would encourage people to just go out and support your friends,” Rummelhoff said. “Even if they’re not in sports, you can always go to those events and watch your friends. We want to create spirit and unity here in MVHS, and I think sports is a good way to do that.”
Rummelhoff emphasizes the importance of student involvement, noting that attending games helps strengthen the sense of community at MVHS.
Bonacorsi echoes Rummelhoff’s message, stating that in the end, the SAS just wants to see improvement in school spirit across the board. He hopes that, eventually, the motivation to attend sports games will span across the whole student body.
“I’m excited to see where this goes in the future, even though I’m graduating this year,” Bergendahl said. “I’m excited to see where the lower classes will go with this, and to see the creative ideas they come up with to improve our athletics culture.”
