The panther pit roars with energy
With its never ending spirit and rowdy chants, there is no doubt that any student or faculty member is unaware of the iconic Panther Pit. The student section that attends and cheers on a multitude of school sports has become an integral part of NPHS culture as it only seems to grow every year.
Desmond Perez, senior, was destined to be a Panther Pit leader. He has a passion for school spirit that he hopes to pull out of other students in the Pit. “In previous years when I’ve been in the pit, I haven’t really been able to like, see like all of the energy that’s feeding off of the people. But then when I was actually in the Panther [suit], or when I was the Panther Pit leader, I realized how much more exciting it is for everybody else because you can see everybody chanting back at you and you can see their energy coming back,” Perez said.
Pit leaders are not the only people who are responsible for such a successful student section. The ASG president, Sophia Di Stefano, senior, helps run football tailgates and lead students to their designated side of the bleachers. “I think we’re crazy. Like, I’ve heard so many times that people get scared of us because we’re so intense and have so much energy. I think we have this kind of organized chaos that brings this energy [out] that other schools just can’t bring,” Di Stefano said.
Brady Craven, senior, is also an ASG member that tailgate-going students have no doubt begun to recognize. Craven is often found in the Panther Pit himself to cheer on the football players who have been on a winning streak this season so far. “Once we score one time, the pit goes crazy. We seem to score like 20 more times and the pit goes even more crazy. So I think it just kind of perpetuates itself. And it’s kind of a cycle in a way and you see the football players coming and sitting on the throne and it’s really nice I feel for the players to have known that they have that support,” Craven said. The senior also has a favorite chant which seems to be a popular one among the students. “I like Sagerman Chant because I just feel like he’s someone that everyone at the school supports. It’s just nice that we all have a common interest and that’s Sagerman and that chant just really gives me life,” Craven said.
It is clear that the majority of students radiate positivity towards the Panther Pit not just for its one of a kind energy, but for connecting individuals of all kinds. “I think having that relation between the general public and ASG is really important for bringing together the culture of the school. Otherwise, I don’t think anybody would be spirited. If we didn’t have a Panther Pit, if it was just ASG, I don’t think anybody would be spirited for these football games. So I think it brings everybody together,” Perez said.
