A CWU sporting event is a regular part of the CWU community. At CWU sporting events you can find hardcore sports fans, but you will also find people who go to games to socialize. The combination of these groups cultivates a community feeling.

Senior physics student Natalie Velez goes to all the CWU home football games. She sees a football game as a social event.

“I personally go to games to hangout,” Velez said. “I am not a huge sports person. I don’t necessarily go to games to watch football. So, I go for more of the community aspect. It’s a nice social event to have something to do with your friends.” 

A CWU sporting event is also a time where students can reconnect with friends and family. Adding to the community feeling.

“My family has come to town a few times to spend time with me,” Velez said. “None of us are huge football people. It’s fun to watch football, but it is not the main reason we go.” They go to spend time with her and to be part of the games community aspect, Velez said. 

This socializing aspect expands past students and even involves the players. Senior business major Derrick Banks goes for family.

“I go to the games mainly because I have a brother who is on the team,” Banks said. “And I am very close with a lot of the team.” 

His connection to his brother and the team builds a culture of camaraderie. 

“I just like having that close experience with being around everybody at the same school and that community all cheering for that one common goal,” Banks said. This community common goal unites students who attend the events.

Banks said the sense of togetherness is the first thing he notices when he walks into a game. 

“Going in there, seeing if everyone is in there having energy or if everyone is kind of sitting around quietly not doing anything. It is really easy to pick up on,” Banks said. “It is easy to see if you go to a basketball game or a volleyball game if people already have energy. The energy makes (the game). The energy gets people to stay for the whole game.”

CWU athletic events are a place where no matter if someone is a fan of sports or not. They can be part of the Wildcat community.