On Thursday, February 5, 2026, PHS convened a school assembly to remind students about behavioral policy in the student sections at school sporting events.
At the meeting, Principal Tim Wormald, along with wrestling coach Nick Fulton, basketball coach Mike Heny, activities director Richard Despain, cheer coach Vicki Walsh, and girls basketball coach Troy Hildreband, discussed their concerns in front of the student body regarding vulgar language, gestures, and other forms of profanity targeted at opposing teams.
Fueling these concerns was an email Mr. Wormald received from a rival community member expressing disappointment in the sportsmanship of our student section. PHS staff have taken action to fix this issue, though there is much disagreement among students and even parents about how the meeting was carried out
“Honestly, I wasn’t a huge fan of the assembly and the things they said,” junior Breckyn Kobbe said. “I thought that this was some of the most fun that the students were having in a long time, since we never really had anything to cheer for this year. But I do think that it could possibly make a better impact on the school due to outside factors.”
Many students, however, feel that this school-wide meeting, though optional, was unnecessary and that the problem at hand lies within a small group of students rather than the school as a whole.
“I don’t think it was necessary,” junior Christian Love said. “To an extent, we weren’t being the greatest of people in the student section, but it really comes down to what our staff is saying about us, and what the other staff is saying about us, because again, they were saying it doesn’t matter if Cody or Lovell was doing it, but if we are doing it, then it is on us. I think if [Mr. Wormald] had just talked to the people who were being more obnoxious and telling them to calm down, then it would have been handled a little bit better instead of making us sign sheets.”
Certain students also point out that they have never actually seen any behavior of this kind, such as throwing things, and wonder whether this is a serious enough problem to even warrant addressing it in the first place.
“I think it was interesting to say the least,” junior Ava Teten said. “I think they got across what they wanted to get across. I’ve never seen anyone throwing anything, but I know that they have gotten rowdy. I think the only problem was really the Cody game we had last Friday, and the last home game when they were calling players and coaches out. Overall, it could have been handled better, and we definitely don’t need to sign sheets. Because they made this whole meeting about a few kids, it’s probably not gonna meet its target audience.”
While the actions described at the meetings were undoubtedly unacceptable, another common complaint involves other teams not being held to the same standards as our school. Many say that Lovell and Cody also participate in profane displays, and that the PHS student section was doing nothing more than matching that energy in retaliation.
“During the basketball games, I was seeing a lot of other schools doing the same things we were doing in their student section, and yet they are never the ones who are getting in trouble for it,” Kobbe said. “Being an athlete myself, having an energetic student section and a loud stadium is one of the best feelings you can have.”
However, it is important to remember that just because other people are doing something wrong doesn’t mean that PHS students have to join in. Staff have made it clear how Panthers are held to a higher standard, and that they need to, as such, adequately represent PHS in a more positive light. One of the big parts of this, as A.D. Richard Despain said, is keeping a filter on what you say and do.
“Have I ever said don’t be loud? No. Have I ever said don’t cheer? No. I’m just reminding you to keep it inside the bounds,” Mr. Despain said. “If you wouldn’t say it in math class, don’t say it at the gym.”
Perhaps the biggest complaint mentioned again and again centers on the paper which students are now required to sign in order to attend the game. These sheets are now mandatory to sit in the student section and were handed out at the end of the meeting. These papers have faced very strong backlash from students, with some going as far as saying they are a way of indoctrinating students into a cult.
“The assembly was kind of pointless; there wasn’t really an agenda, and lots of teachers were just trying to explain rules we already know,” junior Gabi Gernhart said. “The yellow sheet is a commitment to what we already know, just like the student handbook agreement we signed at the beginning of the year. Signing the paper would be like joining The Wave; it’s a cult you can’t get out of if you want.”
All in all, while the student body may disagree on the way the situation was handled, it is important to remember to continue to show school spirit, so long as it’s not at the expense of others. That is a line that PHS should not be crossing. Just because they are our rivals doesn’t mean they don’t deserve respect, and that our students represent the school both at home and on the road.
“It’s always good to take alook at how we represent ourselves, whether that be for me as a coach, for my athletes as competitors,” Mr. Fulton said. “Or for our fans that get to go and enjoy the games. I have a lot of pride in our school, and I want to make sure we represent the Powell community well.
