In the world of sports, traditions and,

superstitions are one of the only things that

transcend generations and gender. Athletes of

all levels in every sport participate in diff erent

types of rituals, from the smallest and most

personal, to traditions that the entire team can

be involved in.

Th ere was Michael Jordan who never played

a game without his North Carolina basketball

shorts underneath his Chicago Bulls jersey.

Th ere was also the retired Boston Red Sox

shortstop Nomar Garciappara who got dressed

the same way before every game, stepped into

the batter box the same way and adjusted his

batting gloves the same amount of time in

between each pitch.

But, professional athletes are not the only

ones who have traditions before they compete.

Th e teams here at UW-La Crosse are no

diff erent. All varsity athletic community teams

have special ways of getting together before

competitions and working themselves into the

right state of mind to go out and compete at

the highest level possible. Some teams swear

by their unique rituals and feel "off " if they do

not perform their cheer, dance, or chant in the

right way before they head out to the fi eld (or

court, or mat).

First, we will start out with the ladies of UWL.

Senior gymnast Kjirsten Jacobson believes

that the cheers and songs they perform and

listen to before they begin competition helps

the girls get pumped up for their opponents.

"We do fi ve team cheers in the hallway before

we march out to the events, and then we have

our big team cheer aft er our march," said

Jacobson.

Senior Decree Bjorkman of the UW-L

dance team says thst they have a few traditions

and rituals of their own. "We have a cheer that

we do that pumps us up. We usually do that

right before we go on stage. We also have a pep

talk before each show so that we all know what

to focus on when we're out there."

But, the ladies are not the only athletes who

partake in traditions to get the teams' focus

and mindset ready. Th e men also have a few

traditions of their own.

Senior track All-American Terrance

Th igpen says that the track team does a pump

up chant that does not just involve the athletes.

"It starts out by one of the guys starting a slow

clap, and that keeps going until the whole team

coaches and trainers included are present and

clapping as one."

Athletes usually begin using traditions and

superstitions when the team starts winning,

using the age old mentality of "if it isn't broke,

don't fix it."

Whatever the ritual behind the team, there

is one thing UW-L athletes all share regardless

of sport or gender, it is the only tradition