When watching both college and high school games, one will find a group of students all wearing similar school apparel cheering on the team. These groups of students comprise a Sixth Man Club. The name comes from the extra fan along with the five people on the court in basketball.

“Our Sixth Man Club resembles the ones in college, and we have just as much heart and spirit as they do.” senior Sports Commissioner and Sixth Man Club president Kelsey Feeley said.

Gunn alum Chris Gumbrecht (’07) was the Sixth Man Club president last year. “I think the main reason it is so important is because it gives the athletes extra motivation knowing that their fellow classmates are behind them, and it all together just makes athletic events more rewarding for everyone,” Gumbrecht said.

Senior club member Sam Drexler agrees. “It’s one big support group for the players.”

Not only are the athletes rewarded with support, but members of the group enjoy cheering as well. “I like the atmosphere a lot,” junior club member Mark Reid said. “It’s just a lot of fun to be involved.”

This year is the first year that the Sixth Man Club is registered as an actual school club, not just an informal group of fans. By doing this, the administration hopes that the advisor, Physical Education teacher Kim Sabbag, will be able to make sure the cheering stays clean and respectable.

The Sixth Man Club is selling club t-shirts. Students who wear the T-shirts to home basketball games get in for free. The shirts are $12 and are available at a first come first serve basis from Feeley.

Feeley said it is easy to become a part of the Sixth Man Club. “Just come to games and show support,” Feeley said. “We’re not exclusive. The more, the better.”