The student section is known to the students as the squadron. The squadron is found in the fall, winter, and spring cheering on the New Ulm Eagles at a variety of sporting events. The students can show school spirit by attending sporting events and being part of the squadron. The squadron is usually the most visible and vocal section at the sporting events with a variety of cheers and themes for each game. The squadron has been around for years, even having custom made shirts for the seniors. The squadron is organized with seniors in the front, juniors behind seniors, sophomores behind juniors, and freshmen in the back. The squadrons cheers can be heard at a variety of events, some Eagles say that it actually helps their game.

The squadron even has its own leader, which is usually always a senior and is voted on by the rest of the student section. This year the squadron leader is senior Jacob Beranek. Jacob is in charge of updating the twitter page on sporting events, starting cheers, and other things such as themes. Being able to “have a big crowd for each sport – that’s all that matters,” Beranak says. Beranek says that he will miss being the leader next year, but he will “close the yearbook,” and pass on the opportunity to a new student at the end of this year.

The squadron has done themes such as purple-out, black-out, pink-out, PJ night, jersey night, hick night, and camo night.

The squadron cheered on boys and girls hockey for their last games of the season. They traveled to the Excel Energy Center for the girls state hockey tournament to cheer on their New Ulm Eagles. The squadron was also at the last boys hockey game of the season. New Ulm hockey senior Sam Berg said that if their games go into “overtime, third period, or a tie game it’s definitely encouraging” to hear the squadrons cheers. The boys hockey game ended in a 2-3 defeat in overtime.

Along with hockey, the squadron is found at girls and boys basketball cheering loud. Junior Jacob Sellner, a basketball player for the New Ulm Eagles,  says that the team will “play better when we have our squadron to back us up and cheer us on.” The squadron is found at home games more than away games ,- the teams “play worse on the road than at home,” according to Sellner. Tuesday, February 28, the squadron was found at the girls home basketball game. The theme of Tuesday nights game was jersey night.

At home games in the gym the squadron has their own section. The “EAGLES SQUADRON” is painted in the section for other fans and parents to know so they can plan and prepare. The squadron is found mostly standing at games and always cheering loud for their Eagles.