Editorial | Please, go to Chapman sporting events

Photo Courtesy of The Panther archives; Mia Fortunado (2019)

The Chapman women’s water polo game against California Lutheran University this weekend was everything that is great about sports. It had drama, physicality, impressive goals, out-of-this world saves and it came down to the final seconds. The Panthers lost, but could have as easily won the contest.

I just wish that more students had been there to see it.

The stands were filled with the parents of players, and random people stopped at the gate for a look during Chapman’s preview day, but current undergraduates were few and far between. Actually, it was just me, my girlfriend and a few of her friends making up the “student section.”

In contrast, Cal Lutheran brought an army of support. Their parents made the trip as well, but so did many members of the men’s water polo team. If you closed your eyes, you would be forgiven for thinking the game was in Thousand Oaks, California.

We and the Panther parents tried to match their noise level as much as possible, and it created a full-body, intense feeling of pride for the school. I haven’t felt that nervous at some of the professional sports games I’ve attended, and it underscores the point I want to make: Chapman’s sports teams deserve a lot more attention.

For both my job as sports editor, and for my own personal enjoyment, I have been to a good number of Chapman sporting events. The only times I’ve ever witnessed decent sized crowds are at football games, and the only time I’ve ever seen Ernie Chapman Stadium packed is during homecoming weekend.

The stands were just a bit over half full when the Panthers won the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) football championship in 2023. Read that again. When our football team was playing to win a trophy, there wasn’t even a fully fledged student section.

Even the idea of a student section at Chapman is mythological at this point. It doesn’t exist. I’ve seen countless soccer games, swim meets and water polo contests here. If it weren’t for the parents, other athletes and a few friends of the players, nobody would show up.

But why?

Obviously, Division III athletics are not going to be as glamorous or impressive as going to watch the University of Southern California. There are no big name stars, ready for their chance to play professionally. But damn, there are some talented athletes at this school.

Where was the support when freshman business finance major Reid Leidlein scored a late game-winning goal against La Verne at home? Where were the droves of students cheering on senior communication studies major  Annika Carlson when she broke Chapman cross country school records on back-to-back weekends?

What about when men’s water polo was playing for the SCIAC championship, why couldn’t we get a bunch of fans to nearby Redlands University, like those Cal Lutheran fans did this weekend? Or when men’s soccer had the same opportunity, why were the only students there the women’s soccer team?

There were four days that the swimming and diving team competed in their conference championships, finishing third overall, but I didn’t see people there to watch junior diver and communication studies major Jake Randazzo’s epic finish in the one-meter final. Nor do many even glance at the tennis teams, even when there are multiple intense games going on at any time.

I know that we all have busy schedules. I’m not asking people to drop everything and become a Panther superfan, dedicating their lives to the athletics program. I’m not even asking for every event to have packed stands, or for people to travel to a ton of away games.

I am imploring people, however, to go watch a Chapman sport, any sport. Take a couple hours out of your weekend. You won’t regret it. Don’t go because your friend is playing, but go because you want to watch competitive action and talented people who have dedicated their lives to get to this level.

Because for many, this is the peak. This is as high-level as it gets. So wouldn’t it be lovely for our athletes to look into the stands, and see a large group of their peers cheering them on?

Women’s lacrosse, women’s water polo, baseball and men’s tennis will all be in action Saturday on campus and in the surrounding areas if you want to support.