The In and Outs of Meridian’s Most Popular Sports

With over 100 total state and district championships across the 24 sports Meridian offers every school year, it should not be a surprise to anyone that Meridian’s students are passionate about sports. Whether students play “to get to know everyone in different grades and make friends” or “bond with friends over a similar interest,” sports are extremely popular at Meridian. As a result, The Lasso sent out a Google form a few weeks ago to gather data from the student body and find out which sports are most attractive among Meridian.

Some of the results were incredibly clear. For instance, students enjoy Meridian’s spring sports the most, with almost 50 percent of the school finding it the best season to both play and watch. Baseball and softball are two of Meridian’s most liked sports that garner ample love and support from students and staff alike.

“The softball team is basically my second family. If I have a bad day, they can always cheer me up and make me laugh. I love having these amazing people to play with,” senior Sara Rollins, the captain of Meridian’s softball team, said.

Tied with baseball and softball in popularity is soccer, one of Meridian’s most competitive and successful sports. Soccer is the school’s most watched and is tied as the school’s favorite spring sport, according to the survey.

“I really enjoy playing soccer because it is fun and gives you something to work hard at. I also play school sports because I enjoy the opportunity to play for our school with my friends,” sophomore Luke Borg explained.

While spring may offer the best season for sports, it certainly does not provide Meridian’s most popular sports. Indeed, basketball and football are Meridian’s most watched sports, totalling at 75 and 63 percent, respectively.

“Watching football and basketball games on a Friday night, especially close ones, are a surreal experience that I enjoy doing with my friends. The atmosphere of the stadium combined with the tasty snacks makes these games so enjoyable for all,” sophomore Liam Ross, an avid football and basketball viewer, said.

In addition to holding the reputation as Meridian’s most viewed sports across all three seasons, basketball and football are also Meridian’s most treasured and liked sports.

“Most students at Meridian are also athletes, so playing sports like football, basketball, and

By Preston Lieu

soccer serves as a good way to become friends with people who will likely be in the same classes with you at some point,” freshman Jackson Watt said.

One of the main reasons as to why so many students appreciate playing basketball and football for the school stems from the copious number of students in attendance who fill up the bleachers for each and every game.

The softball team is bascially my second family. If I have a bad day, they can always cheer me up and make me laugh.” - Sara Rollins

“The student section is one of my favorite parts about playing basketball at this school. The loud chanting and cheering from the students gets the whole team hyped and ready to play,” sophomore Billy Asel said. “That’s why I strongly encourage all students to show up to all sporting events and support all of Meridian’s teams.”