Baker University students, faculty and staff packed the Harter Union lobby Nov. 30 and Dec. 2 and 3 to watch the women’s soccer team take on Hastings College in the semifinals of the NAIA National Championship.
This was not just for show.
When the television feed went out, groans could be heard throughout the room, as people scrambled to look up live stats in the meantime.
They cared about the team.
Celebration erupted when Baker scored a goal and Ruth Sarna, director of student health services, led the crowd in “BU” cheers.
They cared about the team.
Several students made the trip down to Decatur, Ala., for the semifinal match and many more were preparing for the trip if the team made it to the national championship match.
They cared about the team.
When the Wildcats returned to Baldwin City, they saw four large signs bordering Baker’s campus congratulating them on their success at the national tournament. When the bus finally pulled up to Collins Center, a group of Baker coaches, students, faculty and staff, along with University President Pat Long, were waiting to greet the team.
They cared about the team.
Baker’s national tournament run was impressive, but what was also impressive was the support given by the Baker community, not only in Decatur, but also in Baldwin City.
At a small university, sometimes students focus on the achievements of larger area university sports teams, such as the University of Kansas or Kansas State University teams, more than the school’s own teams. This was not the case last week.
All eyes were on the Baker University women’s soccer team in Decatur.
Baker administrators talk about how Baker’s community is like a family, and this was an instance where the Baker community proved this. Professors, students and staff joined together in supporting the team. This was about more than the soccer program or the athletic department, this was a big moment for the entire university, and a moment that was shared by the university.
With it being the beginning of December, a week before final exams began, everyone on campus was scrambling to complete all the work needing to be done before the semester ended. So, for professors and students alike to follow the team so devotedly makes a strong statement about the fans Baker has.
Soccer is a sport with a very passionate and proud fan base, and after the women’s soccer team’s national tournament run, it may have picked up a few more fans to add to its base.
