The heart of the herd
By Paige Purifoy
Photo of the Herdsmen in the student section taken by Kresta Bowman
Owasso High School’s football team is nothing short of spectacular, drawing a huge audience with every game. Students are familiar with the roar of the band, the gripping action on the field and the thrilling performances of our talented spirit teams. One collective experience that makes an Owasso game memorable, however, is the chaos of the student section. Here, students in face paint and bright garb are crushed together, shoulder to shoulder, cheering for the team until their voices are hoarse. Who are the leaders of this havoc? That would be none other than the Herdsmen—the reigning kings of the student section.
It’s no surprise that the student section won the TTCU Federal Credit Union Spirit Stick last year—the authority of the Herdsmen in bringing excitement is unparalleled. You’ll often see them elevated at the foot of the stands in their iconic striped overalls while brandishing megaphones. They also celebrate Owasso’s many touchdown victories by running the spirit flags across the field.
Junior Laiton Dickerson highlights his favorite part of being an Owasso Herdsman.
“My favorite [cheer] is the ‘I Believe’ chant,” he recalls. “I feel like everyone gets into it, and the powder toss makes it ten times better!”
It wouldn’t be an Owasso Rams football game without the explosion of baby powder in the air that undoubtedly intimidates the visiting team. The Herdsmen are behind this, of course, passing out the powder and giving the signal to throw it in the sky. They are behind every chant, and the “LET’S GO RAMS!” blasting out of their megaphones is sure to be ingrained in every high schooler’s mind.
Rallying such mayhem to bring recognition to our sports teams requires a very outgoing, vibrant person. Dickerson brings light to what it takes to be one.
“[We’re looking for] people that are loud, people that are engaged the whole time, people that like to watch football, or basketball or any sport really. [Someone that] likes the competitive side of things … just someone that’s easy to work with and that can be highly available for everyone in the stands.”
Although they are most known for their prowess in hyping up football games, there is much more to being a Herdsmen.
Dickerson explained,“We like to go get active in the community … we went to the gathering on main, … we go to all the elementary schools on home games with the football and cheer team. We try to go to every sporting event we can during the year. We let the younger people know that they’d want to look forward to this in high school, [and] let them know what we’re all about!”
The Herdsmen are definitely all about bringing the hype, they set Owasso’s student section apart with their distinctive cheers and contagious enthusiasm. They should be commended for their unwavering dedication and attitudes as it's not easy to lead such a big group of people. The Herdsmen truly are the heart of the herd!