Spectators were allowed to watch 4A and 3A football games for first time this season
The Skyview Storm got a victory, and they got to share it with so many more people.
That was the story of Thursday night around the county as fans were allowed to watch Class 4A and 3A football games, in person, for the first time in this pandemic season.
“It’s awesome to play in front of fans again,” Skyview’s Tanner Beaman said. “It’s always live here at Kiggins Bowl on a game night like this. With my dad here, my parents here, it’s awesome.”
It was not just football parents who got to attend.
Mark and Alison Tangvald, along with Lauren Tangvald, sat together in the stadium to watch Elle Tangvald cheer.
“We’re super excited to be here,” Mark said.
And yes, after all that the students have gone through in the past 12 months, all the uncertainty, being able to watch students do what they love is special for parents.
“Our daughter is a senior cheerleader, and we’re here to support her,” Alison Tangvald said. “We’re very excited that all the kids are having some opportunities for normalcy, especially for our senior kids.
“It’s surreal, after all this time, to be here in person. I’m kind of emotional.”
The Skyview band brought the beat to the bowl, as well.
“It’s amazing, especially after being gone for a whole year and then some,” senior drummer Miles O’Donnell said. “It just feels really good to be back.”
Alden Roberts, also a senior drummer, echoed those thoughts.
“I’ve been missing it a lot,” he said. “It’s good to at least know I get to do it once more.”
Cheerleaders have been allowed at the previous games, but until Thursday, they cheered in front of no one.
“To be able to have the crowd with us, and to be able to have the band with us, it means so much,” senior Heather Hansen said. “It just brings so much energy to us. It helps us cheer louder. To be able to cheer in my home stadium, where I’ve cheered for four years, it’s amazing.”
Starting this week, the state loosened its rules regarding capacity at outdoor venues. For football stadiums, there can be up to 25-percent capacity now.
For Kiggins, that’s roughly 1,000 people. Even more people could, in theory, be allowed at McKenzie Stadium in east Vancouver. Every school district has its own plan moving forward. There are three more playing dates for 4A and 3A football programs.
At the Skyview game, football players were given five tickets, and at least one of the tickets had to go to a parent. Cheer and band members received an allotment of tickets. The visiting team also was given a limited amount of tickets.
The 2A and 1A football season concludes tonight.
As far as Thursday’s game at Kiggins Bowl, it was all Skyview in a 49-7 win over an Evergreen team that was missing some key players due to injury. Xavier Owens caught three touchdown passes from Clark Coleman. Rhett Sarvela had a one-handed TD reception from Jaydin Knapp. And later, Knapp scored on a kickoff return.
In other games, Mountain View pulled away from Battle Ground, and Union beat Heritage.
The Storm improved to 4-0, with three to play.
And those three should have fans in attendance.
“It is more fun to play in front of people,” Beaman said.
