The bleachers of Angel Stadium were a familiar shade of red last Friday night, but the faces filling the seats were far from everyday fans. Nearly 600 Biola students and alumni came out for the game in an SOS event, and made their presence known in celebration of their first week of school at Biola. They cheered on the Angels with so much passion, they seemed to lift the spirits of the entire stadium.
It wasn’t just the overwhelming red presence that showed these newcomers belonged. From the first pitch, the SOS students were electric, loud and full of spirit; so full of spirit, the group in right field tried to start the wave in the first inning. By the fourth, as a result of some teamwork with Biolans in left field, the wave made its way around Angel Stadium four times, all thanks to the Eagles in the outfield. Biola student spirit was contagious. They even rallied the Angels themselves. The Halo’s trailed until the seventh inning, when they put together a three-run rally, thanks in large part to a two-run blast to right off the bat of Chone Figgins. The Angels ended up beating the Texas Rangers 3-1, in front of a sell-out crowd.
“We wanted to give the new students a taste of SoCal,” said SOS director Jason Smyth. “What’s better than an Angels game?”
Angel Stadium was the perfect venue for an introduction to Southern California life. From Jamba Juice to Panda Express, and even a Ruby’s diner in left field, the Angels and their stadium were about as SoCal as you can get.
“I can’t believe there is a fountain out there!” said junior transfer Abigail Currie, amazed by a rock water fountain beyond the center field fence. She experienced her first-ever baseball game that night and from the first pitch, through the seventh inning stretch, all the way to walking out the exits, she enjoyed every minute of it.
Smyth has been very pleased with this year’s SOS involvement, specifically with the nearly 260 transfers with excitement just like Currie’s.
“This year is really awesome,” Smyth said. “[It’s the] most transfers we have ever had, and they are the most involved they’ve ever been. They are really excited about being a part of Biola.”
Kat Fredericks, a junior transfer living in Thompson, was quite a testament to this. She was standing up and dancing at every half inning (don’t worry, she wasn’t wearing a Biola shirt), cheering on the angels and helping to get the wave started.
“I’m just so happy to be at Biola,” she said.
Fredericks reflected the sentiment of nearly all the students at the game on Friday night.
“Oh, I love Biola, I’m so glad I came here,” said freshman Sigma resident Staycie Ruiz. “I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. I feel like, by coming here, I’m making very genuine friends.”
All in attendance were not only treated to an Angel victory, but also to a magnificent post-game firework experience. The show was incredible, filling up the night sky with an explosion of color and sound, the lights of the stadium dimmed as the sky glowed. All the Biolans in the bleachers looked skyward to soak in the mesmerizing show before heading back to the buses, chanting their newly learned “B-IO-LA” loudly through the corridors, announcing their presence with electric authority to rival the impressive light display.
This year’s freshman class is the largest the university has ever seen, and if the spirit they showed at Angels Day on Friday is any indication of how they will act as everyday Biolans, it’s sure to be a wonderful new season for the school.
What has Currie’s Biola experience been thus far?
“Oh my gosh, it has been so awesome, I’ve had a fantastic … no, a really … no, a supercalifragilistic … good time.”
Yeah. They’re excited to be here.
