The Freddie Fanatics are taking over the stadiums, fields, and courts at Nazareth Academy this fall and are hoping to continue this throughout the year. Freddie’s Fanatics, led by Dominic Purpura, Eddie Gengo, Johnny D’Onofrio, Ryan Marske,  and Jordan Maloney have made an effort to attend every sporting event this season and have made an impact on the athletes’ performance. Whether it be football, volleyball or soccer, they do everything they can to back the student section for those games.

The Freddie Fanatics Fan Page on Facebook has been a helpful tool for them, as well as weekly morning announcements to remind everyone of the theme for that weekend’s games. The four of them have been preparing for these games since last year, and their dedicated planning has obviously paid off.

By chanting encouraging cheers for the Roadrunners, Senior Dominic Purpura believes that he and his crew of fanatics are helping pump up the players to perform their best at every game. The most prominent example is the Roadrunner student section at the football games. Just last week, an extra bus had to be added to the fan bus caravan because there were more people who wanted to go to the game than there were seats on the bus—a testament to just how contagious the Freddie Fanatic enthusiasm is.

Twice a week, Purpure, Gengo, D’Onofrio and Marske meet to discuss theme options for the game, take a vote to decide, and then post the theme on the “Freddie’s Fanatics” fan page on Facebook.

Purpura says, “We try to pick a theme based on what kids are suggesting and what looks best from far away. A color is usually the best theme to do because the opposing team’s student section is usually far away and they can only tell the colors we are wearing.” That is why we have seen themes including the popular “Blackout” as well as Purpura’s favorite: “Neon.”

“Everyone got so into the neon theme…wearing neon from head to toe.”

Another color we can get ready for is pink. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and in keeping with the Fanatics’ goal of sending positive messages, Purpura said that we should get ready for some “Pink-Outs.”  The Freddie Fanatics have also recently announced a charity food drive, proving that their enthusiasm does not lie solely in sports, but also in helping others.

Purpura, Gengo, D’Onofrio and Marske are hoping that as the years go on, even after they graduate, the underclassmen will take on the responsibility of leading the Freddie Fanatics and even expanding to other sports, not just primarily football and basketball. But, just for this year, their goal is to get everyone, especially freshmen, out to join the Freddie’s Fanatics at all the games so that we can defend our title as the Loudest Student Section in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.