Through high school, one of the most memorable experiences for many students is spending Friday nights under the stadium lights at football games. Holding soggy paper trays filled with nachos and cheese while cheering for your school becomes a tradition students remember long after graduation. With hundreds of students supporting them from the stands, football players often thrive under pressure and feed off the crowd’s energy. However, that same level of recognition is often missing for spring sports athletes. Where is the appreciation for the athletes who dedicate themselves to offseason training, early morning practices and countless hours of preparation? At Briar Woods High School, many students and athletes feel spring sports such as girls lacrosse, soccer and crew do not receive the recognition they deserve.
Gabby Mejia, a player on the Briar Woods girls lacrosse team, explained that she first became interested in the sport because of her best friend, Nora, who inspired her to join. From there, she said she fell in love with the game and has now even been recruited for a national lacrosse team. When asked whether her team receives enough recognition for its dedication and hard work, Mejia said, “I think it deserves a lot more recognition. There are so many sports at our school that get so much praise and attention, like basketball and football, but with lacrosse, we don’t get posted as much.”
In a time when social media often serves as a school news outlet, limited coverage can feel discouraging for athletes and teams. Mejia pointed out several moments she believes deserved more attention, saying, “We had our senior night, but Morgan’s best game didn’t get posted, and our home opener did not get posted either.”
Mejia also explained how stronger student support could improve the team’s confidence and overall morale. “I think seeing people support you is really important for the development of many teams,” she said. “If there were more people recognizing our sport, it would be easier for us to be more confident in ourselves and in our gameplay.” Even small actions, such as promoting home games online or encouraging students to attend, could help create a more supportive atmosphere for spring athletes.
Girls soccer coach Coach Gresh also reflected on the amount of work her players dedicate to the program. “I think part of that is that a lot of people don’t understand how much work these girls put in during the offseason,” Gresh said. “There’s the weight room, practices and film sessions. There’s a lot that goes into what we’re trying to accomplish as a team.” She added that her players are “definitely dedicated and work hard,” both on and off the field.
Gresh also emphasized the impact a supportive crowd can have during games. “I think that 100% plays a factor,” she said when asked whether having more fans improves team performance. “Especially playing at home, having your friends and family there, there’s something about wanting to put on a show.”
Returning to the topic of girls lacrosse, Mejia highlighted another issue she noticed when comparing the girls and boys programs. She said the girls team had significantly fewer home games than the boys team. “We only got five home games,” she said, while noting that the boys team had at least 18. She also explained that the boys games were promoted more frequently on the booster club’s account, while the girls team received far less publicity.
Although some sports will naturally attract larger audiences and stronger traditions, the experiences shared by Briar Woods athletes reveal a broader issue regarding support for girls athletics. In 2026, athletes who dedicate themselves to representing their school should not feel overlooked because of their sport or gender. A lack of recognition, limited promotion and unequal attention can discourage athletes who already invest countless hours into improving themselves while representing their school community. If this is happening at Briar Woods, what is there to say it is not happening elsewhere?
Spring sports are not simply another season on the athletic calendar. They represent athletes who work just as hard as those in more recognized programs and who proudly compete for Briar Woods High School. As a school community, students, staff and supporters should make a greater effort to attend games, promote athletes and celebrate the accomplishments of all teams, not just the most popular ones. Recognition may begin with something as simple as a social media post or showing up to a game, but for athletes, that support can make all the difference, and for Briar Woods, as a school.
