It’s typical to hear music played at football, basketball and baseball games. Music from the stadium. Music from the marching band. Fans singing the fight song, saying chants and dancing in the stands.
But there is a new reason to attend women’s soccer games. Not only for the game, but a new kind of sound that hasn’t been heard before and is being embraced by the team, the coaches and fans. It even has opposing teams talking.
After redshirt freshman wrestler Taylor Cummings formed a friendship during the summer with women’s soccer sophomore forward Lindsay Vera and introduced her to a few other wrestlers, including his brother, redshirt senior Garrett Cummings, he and a few other guys had an idea to play drums at the women’s soccer games.
“We used to tell her that we would try to embarrass her at her own games. We would never tell her what we were going to do,” Taylor said. “So we were telling her all summer, and we kind of came up with a way with just playing our drums and stuff at the game — not so much to embarrass her, but [to] bring something to the game that they never really had before.”
Junior Kody Hamrah also talked about the fun that they would have with their idea.
“Well, I guess once we started to know some soccer players, we wanted to come out and surprise them, and we thought that it would be [fun] to make some ruckus at some games. And it started with the cowbell,” he said.”We were trying to be as loud as we can, basically.”
With help from Garrett Cummings, who is not on the wrestling team, the group’s first performance came at the beginning of the season, and it was a big surprise to some of the players.
Freshman forward Briana Cunningham talked about the first time she heard the group play.
“I guess it was at our first home game. I was surprised and I was like, ‘what is that noise?’ And we looked over, and it was all these blond-hair kids playing bongos and playing the drums,” she said. “It was just hilarious because it distracts the other team, but it makes us play so well.”
Hamrah said the group has definitely gotten better at playing since its first game of playing the drums and bongos.
“It was fun. The first time, we weren’t ready,” Hamrah said. “We improved over time. Now that we look back on it, the first time was embarrassing, our performance. But we got it all together now.”
Vera said it was a humorous distraction when the guys first started playing music at their games.
“Actually, it was kind of distracting because a few of us knew, knowing how they are. We wanted to laugh, and I wanted to look over and laugh. But I had to focus on the game, but they sounded good,” Vera said. “You really wanted to stop and pay attention, but it’s almost surprising because they started doing chants and cheers and making stuff up as they went. But it was nice knowing that they were [going to] try to go to every game.”
Like others, women’s soccer coach Laura Kerrigan had no idea what was going on.
“The first time I heard it, I was surprised because we hadn’t had that before, and then I started asking some of the girls. And they were saying that it was some of the wrestling team, and I thought, ‘You know what? That is fantastic that they’re here,'” she said. “It’s great, and I’m sure our players will go out and support them at their wrestling matches. And that’s what it’s all about for the athletes, that they support each other at their games, so we love having them there.”
The group tries to make it to as many soccer games as it can, whether it is busy with practice or not. The wrestlers even try to make it to men’s games. The atmosphere of the game is changing, and players and coaches and fans say it has them excited. And according to Cunningham, at least one opposing team has noticed.
“This past weekend, my friend, she’s on [the] Wake Forest team, she goes, ‘Do they come to every game?'” Cunningham said. “And I was like, ‘Yes, every home game, and they come no matter if they have practice or anything. And they are our die-hard fans, and we love them.”
The guys said they have enjoyed playing at games.
“It’s fun as hell! We get to cheer on everyone on the team. We yell to them, yell to the other team,” Taylor Cummings said. “Try to give the other team some hell, while cheering on our team, which is fun.”
Meanwhile, Hamrah said he now feels a special loyalty to the women’s soccer team.
“I feel like I’m a part of the team. I feel like when we’re not there, I feel like were letting them down,” Hamrah said. “We try to make it to as many games as we can, and we feel like were a part of the team.”
Both coaches said they enjoyed the support the teams are providing each other.
“I love it!” wrestling coach Carter Jordan said. “I think it’s great. I wish we did more of it. I wish that teams were more involved in supporting other teams. Everyone goes to the basketball games, the football games, but I think it would be a neat way for everyone to be like, ‘Hey we are all together in this.'”
Kerrigan echoed Jordan’s comments.
“We love having them at the game,” Kerrigan said. “They create a great atmosphere. They create excitement; it’s fun having them there.”
Some of the women’s soccer players said they will try to create their own musical group for the wrestlers during their matches, though some of them said they lack the musical talent.
“They actually told us that we have to play for them, but we suck at playing,” Vera said.”We’re going to try to give some support, too.”
No need for the fireworks or majorettes twirling batons with fire on both ends or cheerleaders helping the crowd sing the fight song. School spirit and unity is what these two teams said they are trying to build. Being away from home nine months out of the year, they said the partnership between the teams is giving them a reason to enjoy their time together — just like a family.
“We need family more now than ever,” Hamrah said.