When Lane students think of Lane, they think of the 4,300 students, the long halls and the myrtle and gold everywhere. But, others will be remembering the time Jose Terrazas scored the winning penalty for the Soccer City Championship, or the roar of the words “defense” being chanted from one side of the bleachers to the other.

“You might hear marching band start a defense chant and then 10 seconds later, you’ll hear the other side of the court chanting as well,” Suhaib Mikbel, Div. 774, said. “I think 200-plus people attend to support their team and help chant for their team.”

Lane holds many memories in its halls, but most of the memories the students remember are the sporting events the school has hosted. Through home games, students not only see games as just a regular football or basketball game, they see it as another way the Lane community unifies and comes together as a whole.

“When you’re at the games with friends and people who share the same interest in the games as you, it makes the game much more fun to watch,” Hugo Portugal, Div. 758, said.

And even though you might catch yourself going to the game alone, the crowd might make you feel otherwise.

“I would not be able to believe someone is feeling alone in any crowd here at Lane,” Michael Rojas, Div. 775, said. “We have a crowd rooting for the same thing, we are all from the same school. I feel like it’s a very friendly and inviting atmosphere.”

Not only do the people there feel the unity and power of the crowd, the people outside the box can feel the high energy too. Former Boys Varsity Baseball announcer Luiz Ramos, class of 2016, believes there is a purpose for having to attend such games.

  “The games are what brought the whole school together regardless if you’re a student, or a part of the faculty,” Luiz Ramos said. “Everyone is there for a purpose and that was to cheer on the Lane Tech Indians.”

Attending a home game here at Lane is like no other experience to students. The experience to Diamond Dadej, Div. 771, seems as if it “would be seen in a movie.” Dadej feel the games are memories “you will never forget,” since they incorporate both entertainment and school pride.

“I feel the pride of being a Lane student the moment I step into the Lane Stadium and court,” Dadej said. “You step in and you automatically hear the screams and shouts everyone is doing. The atmosphere is buzzing. That’s when you feel like you are a true Lane Indian.”

When taking your first steps into the stadium just as the game is about to begin, the atmosphere can be felt flowing throughout the crowd from one student to the other.

“The atmosphere at the games are crazy and so intense,” Portugal said. “I see looks of excitement and intense focus on the game itself. The look of joy is on everyone’s face after Lane scores or wins.”

And although there may be some instances where Lane might not be winning, the crowd continues to push through to the end of the game with the players, keeping the positive connection between the players and crowd afloat.  

“Even though our team was still losing, the crowd stayed,” Hermes Pazos, Div. 861, said. “They continue to watch and show their support. They stay with their teammates no matter what the outcome might be.”

With the bleachers filled with people exploding with support, the energy leaks into the field and feeds the players the right type of energy needed.

“We get a lot of support, the cheerleaders do their routine, the crowd chants, and everybody brings a lot of positive energy that helps us play a lot better,” Varsity defensive end and Left guard Jeremiah Olojo, Div. 759, said.  

Although most sporting events have bleachers filled with the louds chants from the crowd, there are times where you won’t hear anything at all. That is until the home team scores their 8th point. Silent night is something Lane Tech’s Varsity basketball team has picked up from college basketball games.

“Silent night is having the whole crowd staying silent until the our team scores the 8th point,” Rojas said. “Once the 8th point happens, everyone goes crazy.”

Students and faculty might not be use to the “Silent night” experience, but being a game from Lane, they aren’t use to hosting your regular basketball games.

“It’s a Lane experience because no other high school in Chicago does this,” Rojas said.

Lane is not just known for its many city titles and the title of “School of champions”– it is also known for giving the many experiences that a student or faculty member might encounter at a game.