The West Prairie Press

By Maicyn Shipman

Senior Maicyn Shipman is a guest writer, and in her post, she explores the Crank Zone, West Prairie’s energetic student section, highlighting how themed dress-up nights and spirited cheering support the Lady Cyclones during volleyball games. Maicyn also traces the tradition’s origins back to the Class of 2013, showing how student involvement continues to create excitement, unity, and memorable moments at every home game.

“WEST WHAT? WEST PRAIRIE!”
If you’ve been anywhere near the Crank Zone during a Lady Cyclone home volleyball game, you’ve heard this chant shaking the gym walls. The West Prairie student section has become one of the loudest, most spirited groups around—complete with themed dress-up nights, nonstop cheering, and a contagious energy that pushes the team forward.

Each season, the volleyball girls help plan the dress-up themes for home games. Senior Madelynn Sullivan explained, “We make it so people know what to dress as and will actually dress up and be a part of the Crank Zone.”

The season opener against Farmington was a perfect example. With a “Country Club” theme, students showed up in golf polos, skirts, and visors, filling the stands with laughter, chants, and school spirit. Fueled by the loudest crowd of the season so far, the Lady Cyclones swept the Farmers in two sets.

Sophomore Brylee Elliot shared, “Having the student section makes it more fun for the players, and the students who aren’t involved in sports. It really influences how we play, and we all enjoy it.”
Sophomore Lily Sheffler added, “I feel like the volleyball team gets more hyped when we have the student section behind us. It’s cool to see classmates cheer us on.”
Sophomore Aubrey Smith agreed, “When the student section is cheering us on, it makes us more confident and makes us want to bring all we have to the court.”
And junior Jaycee Reyneseo summed it up: “There are a lot more students showing up this year than we thought. The vibe is really loud.”

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Theme Nights

Some of the biggest home games are still to come, and the team is counting on the Crank Zone to bring the noise:

• Oct. 8: WP vs. Southeastern – Pink Night (wear pink)
• Oct. 14: WP vs. Lewistown – Senior Night (wear black)

A Tradition That Started in 2013

The Crank Zone isn’t new—it started back in 2013 with a group of students who wanted to make games more fun and memorable. Two of those students were now-teachers Mr. Kerns and Mr. Bland.

Mr. Kerns explained, “The main purpose of the Crank Zone was to come up with fun dress-up themes for each game. Before it started, we really didn’t have organized dress-up nights. Another big part was creating cheers for moments like aces, kills, and blocks. We even had a leader who would call out the cheer, and the whole section would join in.”

He added, “Being one of the original creators of the Crank Zone was super fun. We got a ton of students to come to games and participate. It was definitely one of the most memorable parts of high school.”

Mr. Bland echoed the same feelings: “We loved being a part of it. It brought our class and school closer together. Some of my favorite memories in high school involve the Crank Zone.” His advice for today’s students? “Be respectful to opponents, be really loud, and keep the Crank Zone alive. Don’t just stop when volleyball season ends—keep it going for boys and girls basketball too.”

Keep the Tradition Alive

Whether it’s volleyball, basketball, or any other sport, the message is clear: the Crank Zone matters. It boosts athletes’ confidence, unites the student body, and makes every game unforgettable.

So, if you’re not on the court, you know where you belong…in the Crank Zone, loud and proud.