“I think ultimately having a group of upperclassmen that lead chants at games, and organize the student section is beneficial for all students,” said Student Body President Leo Westenfelder.
“I think it’s way too big this year,” said senior Vince Paffhausen. “It’s cool, but when there’s 13 different people trying to do 13 different things, it’s hard to come together.”
Hellgate High School has had the tradition of a group of seniors, known as Zoo Crew, leading all student sections with school spirit and respect for years. Zoo Crew shows up to all sporting events wearing animal onesies.Each member of Zoo Crew has the privilege to stand in the very front row of the bleachers leading the entire student section in cheers, and providing energy as well as encouraging participation from all people in the stands.
Every year, new incoming freshmen are excited to show up and show out to Hellgate sporting events, but they haven’t been taught the student section etiquette. On TikTok, the 13 members of the ‘25/’26 Zoo Crew posted a student section etiquette video explaining the rules and expectations for students at games. Unlike previous videos, the crew went into detail about students who start chants that don’t align with the values of a student section. In those instances the entire row would be asked to leave by either the School Resource Officer or an assistant principal.
Westenfelder said this addition was for good reason. “We want our student section to be positive,” he said.
After the video was posted, students sparked up interest in others being kicked out of games and non-Zoo Crew seniors being in the front row when it wasn’t allowed. One of these seniors, Paffhausen, plays football and basketball for Hellgate, and said his only chance to show up to fall sports are the volleyball games.
“That was kinda… crazy to me,” Paffhausen said. “I’m a senior, I play sports, but I was not happy when I was told I needed to be booted to a back row as a senior.” Although Paffhausen was not directly told to move in the farthest row up with the freshman, he disagreed with what they had told him and stayed in the front row with Zoo Crew. One issue Zoo Crew is tasked with is the encouragement of underclassmen at the back of student sections. This year, Zoo Crew members at volleyball and football games have gone up to the freshman row, or have directly yelled at them to provide more energy in the cheers they were leading, which some freshmen disliked and others appreciated.
“I can for sure hear them in the front row when they’re starting chants,” said freshman Grant Liphardt. “When they yell at our row, they’re usually kind about it so it’s fine.”
All Zoo Crew groups in the past have always yelled and encouraged the quieter students to get loud and more rowdy, but due to the large size of the group this year the crew struggles with kind energy being reciprocated while leading the student section.
“I get it you’re in Zoo Crew, but I don’t think it’s the end of the world if someone else wants to start a cheer that’s reasonable.” Paffhausen said.
“Some people don’t like us, which is hard to battle,” said senior Sadie Seaman, a member of Zoo Crew. “There’s a lot of grey area and genuine commitment that comes along with being in Zoo Crew and a lot of people don’t understand that.”
Zoo Crew’s goal is for the student sections to be respectful while also showing their school spirit. The group has had meetings initiated by Westenfielder, and the Senior Class Vice-President Will Ries, to talk about how to make Zoo Crew the best it can be. There have been no meetings initiated by the student government advisor Ms. Rholl about anything negative so far.
Zoo Crew isn’t something that will be removed from Hellgate. The crew guides underclassmen to show up for their peers respectfully, and provides energy that is needed to organize the student sections efficiently. Without Zoo Crew leading and teaching chants to students, every sporting event would turn into chaos.
