State title a monumental moment for Fairfield
Throughout the team's playoff run, Fairfield girls' soccer head coach Phomma Phanhthy would look up at the stands and wonder the same thing.
Where are these people coming from?
A 2010 census lists the borough of Fairfield's population at 507 and the high school's enrollment at the beginning of this year was 276. But as the Green Knights moved closer and closer to a state title this fall, their fan base became massive.
"I didn't know that there were that many people in Fairfield, to be honest," Phanhthy said of the team's crowds. "When I drive through town I barely see anybody. So it's really nice to see them coming out."
On Friday, the Fairfield faithful essentially turned the PIAA Class 1A title game at Hersherpark Stadium into a home game for the Green Knights. What appeared to be a few hundred fans decked in green cheered in delight as the Green Knights defeated Shady Side Academy, 9-4. The win gave Fairfield it's first team state title in school history.
With the game being played at 11 a.m. on a weekday, the high school's students were let out at 9 a.m. so they could make the 90-minute trip to Hershey and support the team. They came out in droves with their faces streaked with paint, determined to see history made.
It isn't uncommon for high school students to rally around their teams, but Fairfield fans insist this soccer squad has been especially meaningful to them. The Green Knights don't have a history of success in most sports, and plenty of kids thought the school would never capture a state title.
"We're a small school in the middle of nowhere so this is pretty big for us," senior boys' soccer player Matthew Bollinger said. "We're all a lot closer together, and we've had a lot of school spirit the past few weeks so it's been great. A state title means the world to us."
That support has motivated the players since the District 3 playoffs began last month. The Knights knew there were more eyeballs on them than usual, but the buzz around the team never became overwhelming.
According to senior captain Sarah Heinbaugh, the added attention actually inspired the Knights.
"When I was a freshman, we couldn't get out of districts so it was just like, 'How are we going to get (to a state title game)?,'" Heinbaugh said. "It really brought the community together the past couple of weeks, and it makes me so happy.
"When you walk through the hallway at school, everybody is giving you high fives, saying, 'You’ve got this, we believe in you.' Yesterday was like high five after high five.”
As long as it took for Fairfield to win a team state title, fans might not have to wait much longer for the next one. Fairfield is bringing back nine starters next season, including dynamic freshmen forwards Annabel Anderson and Nora Clarke.
The Green Knights might be in good position to go on another run, but Phanhthy isn't talking repeat just yet. If Fairfield does make it back next year though, the coach hopes people in the community fill the bleachers again.
"Just to have everybody show up, it's pumps up the girls and gets them going," Phanhthy said. "It feels fantastic but we're going to start over in August. After today, all the 1A teams have their chance as well so we're going to work hard and see if we can get back here again."