On Friday, Aug. 23 2024, DGS hosted the first Fall Sports Spectacular in the newly-renovated football stadium. The event allowed every fall sport athlete to be recognized for their work; each athlete had the opportunity to take the field and hear their name announced. Additionally, the dance, cheer and step team performed for the first time this season, and the varsity football and varsity boys soccer teams scrimmaged on the new turf.
Athletic Director Brandon Murphy shared the intention behind hosting the showcase from his perspective as a lead organizer.
“We want to be able to bring the community together and be able to showcase all the efforts of the athletes and performers that are working all off-season. As we kick off a new school year, it’s a great way to recognize them,” Murphy said.
Seniors Sylvia Masiulionis and Kayla Meyer are on the girls varsity volleyball team and appreciated the recognition the Fall Sports Spectacular brought them.
“I feel like volleyball isn’t a very known sport that many people come to, so I feel like coming out and being recognized will bring us more awareness and maybe more people will start coming to our games and supporting us,” Masiulionis said.
“We don’t play sports where you’re able to be out here on the stadium, and it was nice to walk out and be introduced one last time,” Meyer said.
Coaches were also excited for their athletes to be acknowledged. Head varsity cheer coach and multi needs teacher Shannon Lahey was impressed with the event.
“This is what community is all about,” Lahey said. “I love when we have opportunities to showcase all of the talents in our school, because I don’t feel like we necessarily get to see that at the community level very often.”
Sophomore Gianna Caruso is on the girls tennis team and enjoyed the Fall Sports Spectacular because she had friends supporting her in the stands.
“I show up for them, they show up for me. It’s really fun, and we all hang out. It’s great,” Caruso said.
Friends and family filled the bleachers to cheer on the fall athletes. Marie Mueleler is the mother of freshman Caitlin Mueleler, who plays saxophone in the marching band and was also highlighted at the Fall Sports Spectacular.
“It’s fun to see them. It’s the first time they’re actually performing at all this year. I think [the Fall Sports Spectacular] is a good idea,” Marie Mueleler said.
The Fall Sports Spectacular also gave administration a chance to introduce the new additions to the football field.
“We have actually been wanting to do an event like this for a long time, and this is the first year that we were able to pull it off and get it together,” Principal Arwen Lyp said. “It couldn’t be a more perfect year because we also get to do the unveiling of the new stadium and of the new scoreboard, and it’s a way to just unite our whole community around all things fall sports.”
Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele was also in attendance and elaborated on the importance of hosting a new event after a summer of stadium construction.
“This is a historic night to open up the stadium this way. We needed to do this work, and it turned out beautiful,” Thiele said.
Dave Schoenike is the football booster president, and agreed that the event was an appropriate way to spotlight the new facilities.
“I think it’s important to showcase this brand new stadium. A lot of these athletes are getting to play on a field and in a stadium that a lot of colleges don’t even have. They’ve got to love it,” Schoenike said.
Junior Sam Sadelski is on the girls cross country team and appreciated how the Fall Sports Spectacular brought different athletic teams together.
“We usually don’t all interact with each other because of our different schedules and how different our sports are, but I think this is something that really connects us and shows all of the work that we’ve put in all season and the work that we’re going to continue to put in,” Sadelski said.
Freshman Lana Banks is on the varsity cheer team and thought the showcase was a good way to kick off her football season.
“It’s an opportunity for us to show what we know and what we can bring to the crowd to make them cheer and bring our football team to victory,” Banks said.
The goal of the Fall Sports Spectacular was to give every fall athlete a reason to be proud of their work, and to make sure they all feel appreciated. Senior Jadesola Sholebo is a manager of the step team, and thought the event did just that.
“It feels like we’re actually getting recognized. I know in years prior we weren’t having a lot of recognition, so I feel like being able to do this and getting invited to more and more school events gives us better recognition,” Sholebo said.
While there is no confirmation that DGS will host a Fall Sports Spectacular next year, the organizers of the event hope that is the case.
