Nov. 12, 2021
By Ella Tozduman
Webmaster
The spirit of the Bear Cave is heard at every LHS football game. The LHS student section, created in 2010 by Class of 2013 graduate Nick Galvez, serves as a way for students to come together and support the school’s athletic teams.
“The Bear Cave represents LHS as a positive, fun, safe community because as a [student], you see how we all come together and everyone feels welcomed,” senior Laney Frey said. “It is like a big family for all sports. It’s all just such good vibes while cheering on our classmates.”
Frey, who is a member of the Bear Cave, said she has always been a football fan and cheered on her brother Nick Frey, a Class of 2018 graduate, when he played football at LHS.
“Every week, I get so excited for Friday because I know how fun the game is and how good the student section is going to be,” Frey said.
The Bear Cave, which is made up of students from all grades, shows its support by filling a large section of the bleachers. The Bear Cave follows a different theme every week. Whether sporting blue and gold, all pink or all white, the students are easily identifiable at games.
“The pink out [on Oct. 8] was one of my favorite games because it was our senior night, and everyone in the Bear Cave went all out, and we won the game [49-15 against Lodi High School],” Frey said. “Whenever I find out the theme, I’ll go to Party City that Thursday, and on game day I will have a few friends over and get ready with them.”
Coach Auteri, the offensive coordinator, played football when he attended LHS.
“They used to call it the student section. When you saw your friends up there and they were getting into the game showing emotion, it always fired you up,” Auteri said.
The Bear Cave relies on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to convey information about the time, location and theme of upcoming games.
“I give credit to this generation now. There is more school spirit now and people getting into it. With social media, the students look at what colleges do, and they try to imitate. That is pretty cool. It is more advanced,” Auteri said.
He said the football coaches love the Bear Cave.
“We know the players notice it,” Auteri said. “There is that excitement, and at the end of the day, school spirit is what it’s about. You have friends that don’t play that particular sport that you grew up with, and they are in the crowd supporting you, and there is nothing better than that.”
Senior quarterback John Lembo said his favorite memory of the season was when LHS beat Garfield High School 42-14 at home on Sept. 24.
“There is that excitement, and at the end of the day, school spirit is what it’s about. You have friends that don’t play that particular sport that you grew up with, and they are in the crowd supporting you, and there is nothing better than that.”
“The Bear Cave played a huge role in that,” Lembo said. “Everyone was there screaming as loud as they could and definitely got into the other team’s head.”
He said the Bear Cave was especially influential at the Oct. 1 away game against Waldwick High School, which ended in a tight 22-25 loss.
“It felt like a home game for me because the Bear Cave was there and being way louder than Waldwick’s fan section,” Lembo said. “The Bear Cave is probably the most important aspect because there is no home field advantage without a fan section.”
The Bear Cave is run by senior Ryan Pando, who oversees the social media accounts and works to get more people to attend all of LHS’ sports games.
“It feels good to know that I am seen as the leader of the Bear Cave, but at the end of the day, it would not be a cave if it wasn’t for my classmates and best friends being there by my side making sure it’s loud,” Pando said.
He said the first game of the season, which was a 47-0 shutout against Elmwood Park High School at home, stands out in his mind.
“I showed up early and made sure it was loud and everyone was participating in supporting our LHS football team because I know if I was out there playing, my boys would’ve wanted the same,” Pando said.
He played football his first three years of high school but is not playing this year so he can focus on going to the gym and training for his lacrosse career. He said the Bear Cave allows him to feel connected to the sport even though he is no longer playing football.
“All we do is chant and support our team even if we are losing by a ton. At the end of the day, we have pride for LHS,” said Pando.
