There are student cheering sections. And then there is the Champlin Park "6th Man."
The student supporters of the No. 1-ranked Rebels' boys basketball team has taken the idea of a cheering section and run with it, so much so that they've developed fans of their own.
Their antics are hard to miss. Often more than 1,000 students strong ("We sold 1,500 tickets to students for the semifinals," said Sam Goodman, one of the leaders of the 6th Man), they are always color-coordinated. Cheers are choreographed early. Some routines, like standing arm-in-arm, swaying back and forth and singing during the national anthem, are almost touching.
Others, like the newly created Curtain of Distraction — a black curtain is held up under the visiting basket when the opponent is shooting free throws and dropped just before a shot goes up, revealing something they hope will be a distraction — can raise eyebrows from more traditional fans. It's all geared toward supporting their team.
"Last year, we created a PowerPoint and took it to the administration," said senior Jack Darnell, a co-creator along with Goodman. "They loved it. They've been behind us the whole time."
The 6th Man has its own Facebook page and Twitter account, @Cp6thMan, which has almost 800 followers.
"It's really brought our school together," Darnell said. "It's just been crazy."
JIM PAULSEN