While in the past winter sports struggled to get big crowds, this season there have been multiple sold-out games: what happened to change the narrative of spartan pride?
The Spartan Crew, a nickname for the New Hartford student section, has played a huge role in taking the fan support to a new level. They have brought a new sense of Spartan pride to the New Hartford community;something that hasn’t been seen for years.
This entirely new atmosphere has brought many people to games that they normally wouldn’t bother attending. The best part? It is not just about having the biggest crowd, it’s about bringing people together.
Senior Sam Beaton, senior Joe Talarico, and hockey coach Mike Tesak stressed this feeling of togetherness.
“There truly is a feeling of togetherness with not only the team but with the community–coming from football where the idea of togetherness was stressed throughout the season,”Beaton, who is also captain of the varsity basketball team, said .
Talarico, a member of the student section, also says how these games mean a lot more: “Being in this student section it’s like being in a family… as if we are all one with every chant spartan pride goes to an all time high”.
The Spartan Crew has shown throughout this sports season they are capable of give teams a helping hand, chants that roar through gyms and crowds at away games bigger than the opponents home crowd. The pride and support they bring is like no other and shows the close connection between the students.
“It also speaks volumes about the students here at New Hartford, Coach Tesak said. “They have a brotherhood and sisterhood that supports one another throughout their athletic careers”.
The basketball and hockey teams have both seen crazy amounts of support that they have not seen in years. Mrs. Randall and Coach Tesak both told me how this amount of support has not been seen for a while. “With social media and the students getting the word out to what teams are playing, it has been tremendous!” Mrs. Randall said. “I love how it’s all the sports..whatever team has a big game, the students respond in a big way!”
Social media plays a huge role in getting the word around about games, it notifies people days before games so they have time to clear their schedules, find rides, and plan.
“It has been many years since I have seen a student section that has had more Spartan pride than the students for the 2025-2026 school year,” Coach Tesak said. “We are going back to the early 2000’s when I played for Spartans and into the 90’s. The students are not only very much present at hockey games, but all sporting events. It is amazing to see and it is what high school sports should be about.”
The students at New Hartford are very good at spreading the word about sporting events, when and where they will take place, themes, etc. This is a big factor in driving people to go to games.
Not only do students enjoy watching these sporting events, they also love participating in themes and chants. Jersey themes, black outs, white outs, defense chants that echo through gyms and spartan chants that give teams a boost of confidence and momentum.
“People do an amazing job of letting the whole community know that there is a game when, and where by posting on instagram and snap stories,”Talarico stated. Talarico also comments on why people should actually go to these games.
“I feel like it’s important to support our sports teams,” Talarico said.” I have a lot of friends on these teams and I love going and watching my boys ball out!”
The student section is great at bringing fans together, but it also serves as a distraction for opposing teams. This winter, Beaton stated that the student section “one hundred percent” provides the Spartans with an advantage over their competitors.
Coach Tesak commented on how the students, although behind walls of glass, still have an enormous effect on games.
“I absolutely feel that it gives our teams an advantage when they can feel, hear and see that support from the ice,” Coach Tesak said. “It makes the games fun. Everyone wants to play club sports these days. The only problem with club sports is the atmosphere. It will never mimic the atmosphere that our students section has brought to our athletic contests this school year. The environment is electric at times and makes it memorable for all that attend and play.”
When asked about just what the student section does to rattle the opposing teams he said “the biggest part about the student section is that they affect the other team by getting into their head, getting them flustered, helping us get an edge on the court.”
Senior Mike Radell also agreed that the student section plays a big role in games.
“I think the student section benefits the team by giving them energy,”Mike said.
Students enjoy going to games and also feeling like they play a pivotal role in every single game. The Spartan Crew has also shown that they travel as well, showing up at away games to make them feel like home games.
“Games like the Whitesboro away game and Clinton away games were electric,” Hockey coach Mike Tesak said. “That environment replicates a college type atmosphere. You can’t just find that type of support.”
It is rare to have a ton of student support at away games because homework, other sports, and jobs keep students busy; but this year, students have found ways to generate huge numbers for away games. “ I love how you guys all travel to the games also,” Mrs. Randall stated . “That has never been the case!”
The student section has brought unmatched energy and pride New Hartford has not seen in a while, but students hope that it lasts.
Beaton told me “I hope this paves the way for student support in the future.”
Mrs. Randall expressed how fond she is of this senior class and what they have done for the school spirit: “I have been teaching for 26 years..and 23 at New Hartford, and I would say that this senior class has been the best!”
With winter sports coming to a close, the support from The Spartan Crew will head into sectionals and continue to cheer for our athletes in the spring season.
