By: Maegan Green<\/p>\n
If you ever have a chance to go to a Hood home game, you might see a crowd of energetic, spirited college students in a section of the bleachers cheering at the top of their lungs.\u00a0 That is Blazer Nation.<\/p>\n
Blazer Nation is a student organization unlike any other on campus. They thrive on school spirit, and their mission is to represent and build upon the support of Hood athletics.<\/p>\n
This organization was started nearly four years ago by Chris Gallo.\u00a0 \u201cHe wanted there to be a bigger fan section for games, so he got the idea to start an organization that would bring students together for sporting events,\u201d said Ashley Nokes, president of Blazer Nation.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be in Blazer Nation essentially means that you support this college\u2019s student athletes. You cheer them on at sporting events and you believe in their success,\u201d said Nokes.<\/p>\n
One way to become a member of Blazer Nation is to join their Facebook page.\u00a0 This is a place for Hood sports fans to come and share ideas for how to show team spirit and spread the news about the latest sporting events.\u00a0 There are 167 members and counting on this page. This is the best way for group members to keep in touch because there are no required meetings.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not very time-consuming, because essentially our meetings are the games,\u201d said Nokes.\u00a0 \u201cI communicate with members on Facebook and encourage any member that has ideas to contact me there or to email me. I am very open to ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kaitlin Hughes is the vice-president of this organization and Emily Wilson is in charge of publicity.<\/p>\n
This organization also strives to support Hood sports teams at away games.\u00a0 Sometimes, they arrange transportation for Blazer fans who want to support their team on the road.<\/p>\n
Currently, the group is trying to arrange for a bus trip from Hood to Salisbury for the basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 15.\u00a0 If you would like to join this group and lend your support, you can sign-up or post it in a thread on the Facebook page.<\/p>\n
Nokes says that the most rewarding thing about being a member of Blazer Nation is \u201cbeing able to watch your fellow peers win that big CAC game or hit a 3 pointer at the buzzer. It\u2019s about being in the moment even if you aren’t in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
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