While two lightning delays and double overtime made for an exciting soccer city showdown, it presented challenges in managing a spirit bus restricted by district rules.

The first spirit bus of the 2015-2016 school year was supposed to be filled to the brim with cheerleaders and pumped-up students. Rather, 16 students left in the bus, and less than came home. One of USD 497’s policies regarding school transportation includes that students who ride to an event in a school vehicle must return from the event in a school vehicle. The only exception is with student, guardian, and administrator signed paperwork.

With the game being in town, most of the 45 students originally signed up chose to use their own gas and drive so they could have the luxury to decide when they would leave the game.

“I really wanted to go on the spirit bus, but the time the bus got back to Free State [after the game] from across town and then I drove home, it would take double the time,” junior Gretchen Boxberger said.

While the logistics of the Spirit Bus faltered, the idea was in good spirit, and Student Body Vice President, Garrett Swisher, has high hopes for spirit busses to come.

“I think spirit busses are really cool because they give the students of Free State that aren’t necessarily involved in sports, but enjoy watching them, something to do,” Swisher said. “[It] also presents a social opportunity for people to go out and make friends, and also for the athletes that are playing. That’s pretty cool that they get to have someone cheering them on away from home.”

Freshman cheerleader Britt Fernandez was underwhelmed with the first spirit bus, but she says she likes the idea and would definitely ride again.

“I like the idea of a spirit bus … I think it would be nice because people really do want to go to away games, but they can’t drive their or their parents can’t drive them,” Fernandez said.

The spirit bus was planned during Homecoming Week by Student Council “to encourage the student body to incorporate themselves more with things outside of just football, and outside of things just at Free State,” Swisher explained.

Even with the low number of riders Student Council’s work didn’t go unnoticed.

“It felt special knowing that people in this school want to help support the Free State Soccer Program,” senior soccer player, Jordan Patrick, said.

While some preexisting circumstances made the logistics of the spirit bus difficult to carry out, the lessons learned will be used to create more successful, spirited endeavors in the future.