The Other Black Hole

From the field, fullback David Nonu, hears cheers radiating from the Highland stands as he tucks the football and runs for a touchdown. But the chants that Nonu hears are not from the Black Hole but, rather, from a different group of students.

On the bleachers students, namely members of the girl’s volleyball team and their family members, can be seen, and definitely heard, from the field. This “support group,” as senior Veroly Kaufusi calls it, congregate together at Highland games to support the Rams on their way to victory.

Kaufusi the cheer coordinator for the support group, along with Rayleen Finau, wanted to start a fun tradition solely dedicated to cheering, in hopes of uplifting the players on the field. Kaufusi and Finau hope that this new tradition continues after their graduation.

“Us as senior girls want to make our senior year the best and make an impact on the younger classmates. We want to keep the spirit alive and teach our younger friends to do something that makes them happy,” Kaufusi said.

According to Kaufusi, and in being brutally honest, the entire front row of the Black Hole consists mostly of white students. Even when the Polynesians squeeze, there is not enough room and therefore gives the impression to some members of the support group that they’re not welcome. And thus, the support group was formed.

This new group is not a separation from the Black Hole but rather is an invitation to anyone who doesn’t feel welcome in the Black Hole and who has a strong desire to cheer. This new group is not only a positive thing but reinforces Highland school spirit. Anyone who is familiar with the Polynesian culture knows just how loud they can be and having cheered with them, I can attest to the amount of dedication installed into each of them and their desire to cheer. The support group’s intentions are real, honest and they mean business.

Different than the Black Hole, the support group does not socialize but rather is solely dedicated to cheering on the Rams. Sadly, the Black Hole is guilty of repeating the same cheers at every game but contrary to the Black Hole, the support group’s cheers are authentic and vary just as the games do.

“We talk about cheers most of which we make up on the spot, what we’re going to cheer next and nothing else,” Kaufusi said.

According to Kaufusi, the Black Hole at times, and even at a game’s most crucial part, doesn’t cheer. Such an observation was brought to my attention as well. It is vital that the Black Hole cheer especially when the Rams are in need of a touchdown, a basket, a goal or a point.

“When I cheer, I’m happy and I really want the players to do their best and if that’s not happening in the Black Hole then we want to make it happen in ours,” Kaufusi said.

The support group was not always on the bleachers to cheer the Rams on. An attempt at the support group happened two years ago when Kaufusi and Finau tried to coordinate cheers with the Black Hole. However, such an attempt proved to be unsuccessful. This time, the new cheer group is here to stay and hopes to make an impact on the athletes.

For Nonu, when he hears the crowd cheering he finds his performance uplifted and executes better on the field.

“There are only certain cheers that I hear from the Black Hole, mostly I hear the volleyball girls,” Nonu said.

Evidence is pointing towards the Black Hole’s loss of spirit. Perhaps, the Black Hole has forgotten what it means to be the Black Hole, what it means to cheer. But on the other hand, the arrow might be bouncing back.

Sophomore Valeti Fonua gives praise to cheer master Mason Alba for leading the Black Hole.

“Alba is not the spirit cheer but the spirit master,” Fonua said.

With the new cheer coordinator position, school spirit is expected to increase. However, such a job does not solely depend on the spirit cheer but on the whole student body. Students must have a desire to cheer and execute such a desire. With the help of Alba, perhaps the Black Hole can follow the support group’s lead. Or perhaps if the two were to join together, the Black Hole would hit ultimate heights. A Black Hole that chants Polynesian as well as traditional cheers and led by Alba, would truly be remarkable.