Lauren O’Malley, Editor-in-Chief
@lomalleycourant
It’s Friday night lights at Dunning Field as the football team enters the stadium. A chant called, “HAIL NC” rings through the night followed by, “Start the busses.” Despite the chill in the air, there is an energy coursing through the stadium bringing spirit to the team. On the home team’s side the Bomb Squad stands as one, sporting the outfit theme and cheering the football team to victory.
“The Bomb Squad is the student section of the New Canaan High School football team and other sports teams,” senior and co-leader of the Bomb Squad, Jake Bausman said. “They all wear the same theme and do unified chants to support the teams.”
The group is especially prominent at football games with a large turnout from students at the school. Senior and co-leader of The Bomb Squad, Jack Lenihan said, “My favorite memory was the whole atmosphere in our first Friday night home game against Fairfield Prep. It was surreal looking at the number of kids that came to that game to support our football team.”
Jack and Jake lead the chants that are heard throughout the game have become an important part of The Bomb Squad. “Starting chants have become the best part, especially when we are able to get everyone to yell the same thing super loudly. Sometimes they are funny, sometimes they can be mean, sometimes they are random, but that is the best part,” Jake said.
Leaders of the Bomb Squad have several responsibilities each year, which include choosing the themes for each week, managing Bussey’s Bomb Squad—the group’s Facebook page, posting about games, and encouraging students to come to games and rally for New Canaan’s teams. “It’s more of a collective effort than just me and Jake, but it is cool to be able to try and lead the charge during games,” Jack said.
Leadership positions for the Bomb Squad are passed down every year, and this year’s leaders were selected during the summer. “It was getting pretty late and we did not have Bomb Squad leaders before school was starting,” Jack said. “After talking to a few of my friends, I decided it would be a good idea for me to become a leader.”
As the years go on, the tradition evolves for many. “As a freshman and sophomore, I would stand near the back of the section,” said Jake. “Now, I stand near the front because I’m a senior and a leader. I’m louder now, I was much quieter in years past.”
The traditions held by The Bomb Squad unite students to the school. “It is a tradition that has been going on for a long time and it gets me more involved in the school. I have met a lot of new people participating in the Bomb Squad,” said Jake.
The Fairfield Prep game played on September 9, 2022 was an especially exciting time for the Bomb Squad. “This was the first home game as a senior and my first time at the very front of the bomb squad. The game was loud throughout and we had great energy,” said senior Buster Zwick. “The game came down to the last possession and they had the ball in our territory. We were chanting defense and the whole student section was going crazy. On the last play Tucker Milligan sealed the game with an interception and everyone was jumping up and down. We even broke the fence. It was great to see our student body come together and have a great time.”
The Bomb Squad also has an effect on the sports teams they are supporting. “It has a huge impact on the teams because the energy of the Bomb Squad gives energy to the players,” Jake said. “There are some sports where I think it matters more than others. Football is huge because you need a lot of noise but especially in basketball, you are right next to the court and it is a smaller setting so the energy may have more of an impact.”
Jack has been on the receiving end of the Bomb Squad’s cheers playing on the basketball team. “I believe the Bomb Squad has a huge impact, as a basketball player I have experienced it first hand and having your friends and peers there cheering for you gives me that next gear that makes me want to perform even better,” Jack said.
The Bomb Squad has become an integral part of the school and the sports teams they support. “It is fun being a leader, and the Bomb Squad is an important tradition,” Jake said. “I think it is something important for the high school in terms of having the teams play well, and it’s also an opportunity for people who don’t play sports to be involved in sporting events.”
