Credit to Parker Smith

Everyone has traditions but when it comes to sports, it’s a different type of tradition. Some wear the same colors, some play certain songs, but North stays silent. Mike Freedline, marketing teacher and DECA sponsor wanted to do something that would get more students to go to the basketball games. The answer to that was Silent Knight games, a new tradition he started last year, an idea that he got from watching college sports.

“I wanted to create more school spirit, because we always need more of it, and anything fun we can do to get more people to show up to games I’m all for it,” Freedline said. “The hope is that the more people in the stands, the better they are going to play.”

Silent Knight games are an event where the fans are silent until the first Knights basket is scored and that is when the fans erupt. When one gets to the game, they can write their name on an index card to be put in a bucket, and whenever a three pointer is made, Freedline draws a card out. If someone’s name is picked, they win a free bag of DECA cookies and they get to wear a cookie costume. These events are held at home games when both the varsity girls and boys play. Freedline hopes these events will benefit the community of FHN to show up and support the basketball team.

“I think it is a different way for everyone to enjoy the game, even if they don’t know what’s going on or how it works,” junior point guard Tyger Kibera said. “They can still be a part of the experience without having to worry about the exact rules of the game.”

It’s not just great for the fans, it’s great for the team as well. All the fans that this event attracts is great for the players. Kibera loves the pressure of these events.

“I believe it positively affects the team, even though we might be a little nervous, because there’s more people,” Kibera said. “At the end of the day that’s what makes it all exciting and makes us want to play harder.”

Not only do these events affect the team on the court, but it also affects the team off the court.

“I think it’ll make us work harder at practice knowing that a lot of the kids want to get in the game when there are a lot of people there,” junior forward Bryce Renz said. “So, they influence kids to work harder and become a better player.”

There will be seven more home games the rest of the season. Four of them will be Silent Knight Games. The next Silent Knight event will be Friday Jan. 19, against Francis Howell High.