By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Tavon Stroup is not a dual-sport athlete this fall. At least not technically. The Great Bend High School senior recently qualified for this Saturday’s Class 5A State Cross Country Championships, but his antics in the stands at various Panther sporting events are often athletic feats in their own right. Stroup is one of about a dozen students who make up the Striped Mafia that helps fire up the student body and Panther crowd.
“It’s a blast,” he said. “We get chills from it, seriously. Just showing up every game, being loud, getting the crowd involved, and having high spirits. It’s getting everyone involved. We just want to be at the football games for our friends.”
Stroup and about four friends started the group last year with the goal of supporting classmates in their athletic endeavors. Just a year later, the group has nearly tripled. The Striped Mafia is easy to see in its red-and-white striped overalls during GBHS athletic events.
“I decided to amp it up this year just for the reason, it means a lot to me to get everyone involved,” Stroup said. “It’s our last ride as seniors, and we want to be the ‘12th man’ on the field, helping our boys win and bringing energy to Great Bend.”
The excitement has been easy to generate for a Panther football team that has posted a 17-1 record over the past two seasons, including another 8-0 start heading into tonight’s home playoff opener against Newton. But the Mafia also takes its show on the road.
“For the guys, game day is a lot of fun,” said Stroup. “For home games, we wear our bibs to school, and for every game, we always get to the field early, tailgate, throw the ball around, cook - just the full experience that is nothing but fun for everyone.”
During football games, the boys wave Panther flags, lead cheers, and help bring the noise. Stroup takes it a step further, doing push-ups for every Great Bend point scored. That has been a tall task this season with the football team scoring early and often. Two weeks ago in Hays, Stroup did 36 push-ups to celebrate an offensive score. Just a few minutes later, he had to do 43 more after senior Ian Premer returned an interception for a score. That’s 79 pushups in a matter of minutes.
“Sometimes the push-ups can be a little rough, especially in moments like that where it’ high-scoring and back-to-back. It can feel never-ending at times, but there’s never been a time I didn’t make it. You just have to do it for your boys on the field and the people in the stands. You don’t want to disappoint anybody.”
Saturday was another big day for Stroup and the Mafia. Stroup ran ninth at the Class 5A regional cross country meet at Lake Barton, helping the Panther boys’ team to its first state appearance in five years. A couple hours later, he was leading chants as the Panther volleyball team secured its second state berth in as many years.
“I’m a guy who hates losing,” he said. “That’s all we do right now is not lose, so I enjoy it quite a bit.”
This year's Striped Mafia includes seven seniors and four juniors. Given the growth from a year ago, Stroup hopes the tradition will continue even after many of this year's members graduate.
"It feels amazing, and I hope it does," he said. "We already have people wanting to do it next year."
The Panther volleyball team opened play in the Class 5A state tournament in Salina on Thursday. The Panther football team kicks off against Newton at 7 p.m. tonight at Memorial Stadium. Both GBHS cross country teams run in the Class 5A state championships at Rim Rock Farm on Saturday.