BOTF X: Buchanan's 'Herd' Begins New Era with Same Bucks Energy
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 8, 2022
They knew each other, but weren’t really friends at that point. Six months later, McKean just remembers thinking it would be fun. But the magnitude of the opportunity sank into Tucker’s recollection much more heavily.
“He grabbed me,” Tucker recalled last week,” and changed my senior year.”
Over the last decade, Buchanan High School’s “Herd” has established itself statewide as an example of prime student section culture. The Bucks have won the MHSAA’s Battle of the Fans three times, and Buchanan’s appearance in this year’s BOTF X Finals is its fourth-straight and seventh overall in the championship round. The Herd has served as a teaching example for how student sections can organize, grow and transform a school – and Tucker’s experience has been among the latest examples of the good that results from that work.
“This year was just completely different for me,” Tucker said. “It’s so much fun; it’s hard to explain. Getting to help lead the chants, being up front at games, it’s an experience you can’t recreate in a different way.”
We caught up with The Herd for Friday’s home boys basketball game against South Haven, the MHSAA’s second of three visits as part of this year’s BOTF finalists tour. Midland Dow hosted the first Jan. 28, and the final visit will be at Traverse City West on Feb. 8.
Below is our highlight reel and 10 “X Factors” from our trip to Buchanan.
1. Battle Plan
Friday’s visit coincided with the culmination of Buchanan’s “Winterfest” week. Activities included the crowning of class representatives between the girls and boys varsity games and a collection taken up to assist with medical bills for a student suffering through a tough bout with COVID-19. This also would be the seventh win of a current eight-game streak for the boys basketball team.
2. Honoring Tradition
Anyone who has witnessed a Buchanan basketball game over the last decade would have recognized the “Welcome to the Woods” and “B-U-C-K-S Bucks” chants and the dance mashup among familiar Herd activities. With seven BOTF finalists appearances, there’s a lot of Herd video out there – and current leaders have watched for ideas that while old are new to them.
3. Hitting Reset – Sort Of
Two years of COVID-19 – and especially 2020-21 with spectator limits – forced current leaders (almost exclusively seniors) immediately up front, without the usual buffer junior year to watch how everything works. But there was some benefit: “We started new and we’re growing different this time,” senior Brennen Weaver said. “We’ve always had The Herd, it’s here, but it’s like we cleared the white board and we’re now redrawing a new thing that’s starting.”
4. Why it Works
Current leaders were raised in this culture, which makes things easier to continue – but other schools can follow the same plan. The section is basically a “spirit team” that brings enthusiastic students together for regular planning meetings. There’s an upperclassmen-driven leadership structure, but input is supplied by students from all classes. The Herd from its start has made a priority of visiting Buchanan’s elementary and middle schools, teaching those students how to cheer and cultivating the next leaders. They work closely with three teacher advisors and the blessing of administration, and have made a point of becoming active in the community as well. All of it is mostly in the name of fun, and that keeps interest up – clearly, as about 170 students from a school of 380 filled the stands Friday.
5. So What’s New?
The Herd always has taken pride is attending a variety of sports. But this year’s football cheering section surpassed all previous renditions. The Bucks also cheered on their classmates during a competitive cheer meet. They supported at cross country, wrestling, and even at a marching band competition in Detroit. And of course there are new themes to go with the ones that always get the rowdies excited.
6. Nicest Place in America
Reader’s Digest named Buchanan exactly that for 2020, and while The Herd wasn’t mentioned in the feature on the community, there’s no doubt that strand is woven through the student section as well. Example: A “Mean Stinks” anti-bullying campaign incorporated into the 2014 Bucks section still is part of its message today. “I can’t imagine living or going anywhere else,” senior Macy Orphanidis said. “Buchanan is such a tight-knit community, and I love every single person here and I know everybody. It’s like my family now.”
7. “Which Way? This Way”
The chant is basketball related, but the message is a way of cheering life. It’s all positive. And can be pretty simple: Earlier this season an opposing student section was cheering “air ball” and trying to get a Herd response, but instead was ignored. And the negativity from the other side stopped. “They have the energy,” senior Joy Kaltenbach said. “In sports a lot of times we naturally just get mad when something bad happens instead of being happy when something good happens. So I feel like they just need to redirect their energy.”
8. Come Join Us
Another Herd tradition brought back this year is a halftime conga line, and on this night the Bucks got at least a handful of South Haven students to join in. During football season, McKean went across the field to the Niles student section and unsolicited led those students in a chant. It in part comes down to confidence. “Even if you’re not confident, you have to portray yourself as confident, because if you’re nervous they won’t listen to you,” McKean advised. “If you walk around with a lot of swagger holding that megaphone like a boss, they’ll listen to you.”
9. Pro Tip: Work with What You Have – It’s Plenty
Every student section has the ingredients, starting with a leadership group filled with different personalities – some will want to focus on creating cheers, others themes or how to make the most noise. Involving variety also includes bringing in leaders from different sports, extracurricular activities and friend circles. Those representatives in turn will get more from their groups to take part.
10. The Herd Will Continue to Roam
That’s the end game. “I just want to teach (younger students) to stand out in their crowd and try to be their own leaders, so maybe that can be the ones who can be in the position we are,” Weaver said. “So they can give their energy and be the one providing all the loudness and fun cheers. (We want to) find those people who really embrace it and want to do more.”
The Battle of the Fans X finalists tour will conclude Tuesday at Traverse City West, with public voting on the MHSAA’s social media channels starting Feb. 15 and the champion announced Feb. 18.
PHOTOS (Top) Buchanan's "Herd" cheers during Friday's boys basketball win over South Haven. (Middle) Students shine their phone lights during pregame introductions. (Below) The Bucks follow their leader on a rollercoaster ride during a break in the game. (Photos by Jessica Elliott.)
SAC Leaders Represent at NFHS Summit
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 10, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
New members of the MHSAA Student Advisory Council quickly find themselves among new friends from different schools who are similarly motivated to provide valuable leadership to their classmates.
Four SAC seniors were among 100 students at the inaugural National Student Leadership Summit on July 20 in Indianapolis – and again found plenty of common ground with leaders from all over the country also driven to provide strong student voices in their schools and communities.
The event was hosted over three days by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Students were split into discussion groups tackling a variety of topics and also spent time working with Indiana Special Olympians.
Now home, the MHSAA's four representatives – Ben Kowalske of Livonia Stevenson, Bekah Myler of Gaylord St. Mary, Trevor Trierweiler of Portland and Greta Wilker of Belding – reflected briefly on the experience and what they’ll take into this year to pass on both at their schools and to leaders all over Michigan.
What was your first impression of being surrounded by student leaders from all over the country?
Trevor: When I first arrived at the camp I didn't know want to expect; I did not know whether to be nervous, excited or happy. Then when I started being around other leaders with similar personalities, and mindsets, it was easy to be around them and interact with them.
Bekah: My first impression of being surrounded by leaders was that I felt comfortable and secure because I knew everyone around me had the same goal of becoming a better leader.
Ben: At first I was wondering how well all the leaders would mix in during the activities. My first impression was how nice and respectful everyone was.
Greta: I thought it was really cool to see all the leaders from different states and know that we got to be a part of something pretty selective.
What was the most fun part of the trip?
Trevor: I had the most fun during activities with other student leaders, and in the leadership lounge. In the lounge all the student leaders spent time together playing games and enjoying fun activities.
Bekah: Walking to Steak 'n Shake after the dance with my new friends; also hanging out in my room with my roommate who I became good friends with. All in all, I enjoyed meeting new people!
Greta: The most fun part was getting to make friends with kids from across the country and getting to hang out with them for the three days. The late night Steak 'n Shake runs were a lot of fun and just hanging out in the rooms afterwards, just getting to know everyone.
What was the most eye-opening part?
Ben: Not to sound stuck up, but the most eye-opening was how well the MHSAA SAC is doing. Most states don't even have a council, so seeing how much we do and that we have a council unlike most states was eye opening
Bekah: The Special Olympics event opened my eyes. I was able to experience something that I never have before. When I play any given game whether it be checkers or basketball, I have a desire to win. But that day, it wasn't about winning or losing. It was about giving and sharing the joy of accomplishments that so many of us take for granted.
Greta: It was amazing how hard the athletes work and how skilled they are at the sports they play. I got to work with Nick and he was beating me badly in corn hole, but we did make a pretty good team in bocce ball.
Trevor: Seeing the smiles on the Olympians faces really made me feel special and realize how lucky I am.
What did you learn that will be most useful during your senior season, either on the field or off?
Trevor: Two really important things the counselors preached was that everyone has different perspectives. That just because it’s not your way does not mean it’s wrong; it just means someone else may have seen it differently or solved it differently.
Greta: The most useful thing I learned was about relationships with one another and how you can create a positive environment through them – and also how to be a respected leader while still being able to confront others on your team to push them.
Bekah: To be a leader, you don't have to be liked by everyone, but you must gain respect from your teammates and give them a reason to respect you through your actions on and off the field.
Ben: Being a great leader doesn't always mean you have to be the boss or be in charge. You can lead by example by doing the little things, and people will follow you.
Trevor: Another thing that I want to bring back to my school, and teams, is that all players, and people, should be treated equally no matter what age or grade. For example, all players should be delegated (to carry) supplies, not just the freshman or underclassmen.
What from the conference would be best to pass on to student leaders throughout the MHSAA?
Greta: I think the thing to pass on is that you can make an impact; you just have to have the confidence in yourself to do so. Leading is all about the influence you can have on people by setting a good example and believing in yourself.
Ben: Stand up for what is right and always do the right thing, because you never know who is watching.
PHOTOS: (Top) From left, Belding's Greta Wilker, Gaylord St. Mary's Bekah Myler, the MHSAA's Andy Frushour, Livonia Stevenson's Ben Kowalske and Portland's Trevor Trierweiler attend the first-ever National Student Leadership Summit. (Middle) Kowalske and Myler pose with a Special Olympian during their activities as part of the NFHS experience.