SHS starts new tradition

Last Friday, Solon High School began a new tradition: singing the SHS alma mater after football games.

The idea to adopt the new tradition began with Erin Short, the principal of Solon High School. She hopes  it will bring unity and pride within the student body.

“It is my hope to continue to honor the rich tradition of Solon High School while concurrently growing school spirit,” Short said.  “We are lucky to have thousands of alumni who are making an impact locally and across the world, and I believe this new tradition will help remind all of us how lucky we are to call Solon High School home.”

This decision was made between Short and  SHS football coach, Jim McQuaide. Not only are they both excited for the new tradition, but believe that this song will bring all students closer.

“Anything that we can do to bring everybody together is a positive thing,” McQuade said. “[Singing the alma mater is] something everybody is doing together, and [the football team] gets to do it with the students and the band and alumni, hopefully, and anyone who’s there. That’s the goal.”

Zach Beder, the starting left guard on the team, thinks this will benefit the school’s student body.

“I think this will definitely bring the football team closer with the fans because it’s about school pride, which I think both fans and players have and can now share together with this tradition,” Beder said.

Thomas Wilks, the starting running back, not only agrees with Beder, but believes the song will inspire the players to work harder.

“In my opinion we…will be self motivated because we enjoy the game so much and will do everything we can[to win],” Wilks said. “You can say that it will motivate us to sing the alma mater [after] a win.”

Along with the new school tradition, SHS created the Spirit Squad, a group of students from all grades that promote school spirit. A member of this new group, Sydnie Singleton, hopes this new tradition will bind SHS’s student body.

“I think it’s really cool to sing the alma mater at the games because it makes Solon look more unified,” Singleton said. “Our alma mater is unique since it was written especially for us, which is also pretty cool.

On Friday, with bended knees and arms linked, the football team presented itself before the student section after a win against Twinsburg and sang the school’s alma mater.  Laura Mayer, SHS Band President, conducted the song among the crowd. The remaining fans rose and joined in. Short, McQuaide, Beder, Wilks and Singleton all sung the alma mater with pride  after the game, along with the rest of the attendees.

SHS adopts this new tradition with open minds for the love of not only football, but for the love of our school as well.