Kristin Marthaler

Constant streams of fans sit behind the opposing team during every home basketball game, ringing cowbells louder than ever in the ears of the opponents.

“This started out as something to get the crowd going at the basketball games. It helps out our basketball team, and makes the other team concentrate harder,” said John Wagner.

Wagner is part of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity at SDSU. He and his brothers got a group together to represent SDSU behind the opposing team at games.

“This is something that just started this year and we get more random people at every game,” he said.

Some people walk away injured, even though they never played in the game. Cowbell ringers are finding new ways to hold the cowbells because their hands hurt by the end of the night.

“Yeah, I acquired these from the last game,” said James Dillon, a member of Sigma Phi Delta, pointing to the blisters on his hand.

“I went to Runnings and bought my cowbell before the Sioux Falls game and sat behind the other team and heckled them,” said Chad Meirose, also a member of Sigma Phi Delta.

Runnings sells cowbells during the game ranging from $5 to $9.

“We just need more fans to join us and to make sure they have a cowbell in their hand,” said Meirose.

Everything started out during rush week for the Sigma Phi Delta fraternity. Since then, to keep the bond in the fraternity, students have returned for every game.

This group of students is also trying to recruit more students to go to games so they can also cover the women’s games.

“I am hoping that this overlaps into other season’s sports, but we’ll see,” said Wagner.

Meirose also points out that they bring earplugs for those fans who sit in front of them

“We don’t realize until we leave how loud it really is in the arena,” said Meirose.

The University Police can usually be found standing by the fans on the opposing side of the arena.

“We never get out of control, but I’m sure some of the fans or Brookings residents gets concerned with how loud we get,” said Dillon.