This was previously published in our October 2025 issue.
The blast from the band’s drums, cheering coming from all directions, and the smell of food from the snack stands are exactly what students look forward to during Friday night football games at Emmaus High School. Meanwhile, just a few hours prior and just a few feet away, a near silent tennis game took place. The difference in atmosphere is notable and many EHS athletes wish for more recog- nition.
Senior Brody McHugh, varsity football captain, as well as right and defensive tackle, is aware of the difference between his sport and others, and has great appreciation for the supporters that consistently come to his team’s games.
“[The crowd] helps on the field because you’re so locked in on the game that when you make a big play, you get that boost in your game when you hear every- body cheering,” McHugh said.
Driven by the student section, McHugh tends to dislike “away” games with smaller stadiums that draw less of a crowd, as he prefers to feel pressure on the football field. He acknowledges the difference in seating and how the situations he’s been in has affected him personally.
“There’s definitely a lot more seats so more people come [to the stadium],” McHugh said. “Everybody’s watching you and you have to play your hearts out, and then there are games where it’s a little less. You don’t have that much motivation.”
In contrast to McHugh’s passion for school spirit, girls lacrosse midfielder senior Sarah Gross, enjoys the setting in which she plays. When compared to the football stadium, the memorial field has a smaller amount of seating, but still has a larger amount of seating in relation to the tennis courts.
What Gross does care about, however, is the recognition her sport gets and being sure ev- eryone is able to attend the team’s games.
“It would be nice to draw in more of a crowd and know that we do have space for everyone,” Gross said. “It’s nice to get a larger crowd, like recognition, especially for girls lacrosse because I feel like we’re not very publicized.”
A common theme amongst EHS athletes is believing that the amount of advertising their sport gets has a direct impact on the amount of students showing up.
As of the 2025-26 school year, the Emmaus girls and boys volleyball teams have officially been moved from the auxiliary gym to the main gym. The teams’ booster clubs proposed the move to the school, offering to pay half of the cost for the instal- lation of the netting system needed for the main gym. The goal of the move was to gain recognition and have a more professional-feeling environment for the team to play in.
Senior Alyssa Heffner, a setter for the girls varsity volleyball team, enjoys the bigger crowd and larger student section.
“Their energy makes us play harder and boosts our confidence,” Heffner said.
Many EHS sports teams need to take the matter of finding their audience into their own hands. With the visual difference in seating opportunities comes a realization of how different sports are seen, leading to what looks to be a predetermined amount of spectators. Sophia Kaufman, senior and singles varsity tennis player, has also noticed the choices made and lack of bleachers after comparing her home-game to away-game matches.
“I know other schools have [bleachers]…There is room for a small set of bleachers,” Kaufman said. “There’s room there, and it’s flat, so you could put it there, but they don’t.”
The underlying message in these young athletes’ minds has to do with the seeming favoritism some sports get. While some enjoy the number of spectators they receive, others are hoping to gain a little more support from their peers.
“For bigger matches, like against Parkland, it would be nicer if [the student section] were bigger, because those are pretty good matches,” Kaufman said.
With a successful season, many athletes are looking forward to recognition, but due to a lack of interest from the community, they are missing out on the praise they’re hoping to receive.
An underlying question being raised among these EHS sports teams would simply be, is the school playing favorites?
Additional reporting by Thiffany Ceolin-Reimao.
