After the football team scores the winning touchdown the students screaming in the crowd are always the loudest. Here at Fauquier High School (FHS), the student section is called the Zoo. The Zoo consists of all grades and any FHS student can be a part of the Zoo. In the front of the Zoo are the Zoo captains. Every year, seniors can have the opportunity to become a captain. It is the responsibility of the Zoo captains to be at all sporting events and cheer on the FHS sports team no matter what happens in the game. They will start chants and cheers for the other students to join in. The 2024 Zoo captains include Dylan Donner, Kenza Chienku, Eli Rittenhouse, Sydney West, AJ Lamper, Addie Gorg, Michael McAuliffe and Madelynne Martin.
So far it is looking like the student section has much more spirit from last year. That is because of the great captains. The Zoo Captains already have many ideas on how to make the Zoo enjoyable for everyone. Their goals for this year include, “Have a lot of fun, cheer for all the teams, and attend as many games as we can,” said Chienku. Donner then added they wanted to, “not just go to the main sports, but try to go to the other sports as well.” The Captains stressed the importance of making sure all sports get recognized throughout the year. Lamper said in order to improve the Zoo from last year he hopes to, “create an atmosphere that’s more exciting for everyone.” Student involvement in the Zoo should be for all students, not just the seniors and Zoo Captains.
All Zoo Captains have attended FHS all four years. They got to watch the Zoo change through the years. They each bring something individual to the Zoo. West said, “I thought that I could bring in new ideas and people.” She continued by saying she wants to “bring a positive experience to all the sports.”
Zoo Captains are typically “respected throughout the school,” Donner stated. The process of becoming a Zoo Captain involves passing the torch down from previous Captains, as well as recommendations from teachers and administrators. The Captains are also chosen based on what sport they play. Captains should play different sports from different seasons, that way no season of sports is missing the Zoo Captains. The Captains are excited for this year and are looking forward to making it memorable for themselves and all other students at FHS.
