The cheer that follows the last note of the national anthem is oftentimes the final push that athletes feel before a game.
And the singers who perform before the events shoulder the pressure of the whole stadium.
Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that would later become “The Star Spangled Banner” in 1814, but it would not become ritual until almost a century later.
Nowadays, students and faculty have the opportunity to sing at Ohio University events.
Robert Lambert, assistant director of marketing for Ohio Athletics, said there is a fairly easy process required to audition to perform the song at OU events.
“The way it works is that people can find information on our website and contact me,” Lambert said. “Then, if they are local, they can come in and audition, but if they are not, they can send in a recording by email.”
Sarah Rachul, a sophomore studying strategic communications, has been a regular singer at the hockey games since last November.
“I sang at Dads Weekend last year as a surprise for my dad. It grew from there,” she said.
Lambert said it’s not difficult for him to fill the spots even though the performers are unpaid.
“We have a good group,” he said. “And we are always looking to expand.”
However, some students find the balance between being a performer and a peer to the athletes challenging.
“I am so close with the team since my boyfriend is on it that the most challenging part is not the singing itself, but rather singing in front of the team,” Rachul said. “I am so close with all of them that I knew that if I messed up, they would never let me hear the end of it. But thankfully that hasn’t happened yet.”
Devin Sudman, a sophomore studying vocal performance, said he finds the experience rewarding.
“My favorite part is the satisfaction I get when I am done, the way everyone cheers,” he said.
Rachul said she echoes that sentiment, especially for personal reasons.
“I am very proud to do it because of my grandpa,” she said. “When I sang the first time, my dad said that my grandpa, who had passed, would have been very proud of me. That made me really happy.”
mo403411@ohiou.edu
@megomecene
