On Friday nights under the bright lights of Henderson Stadium, the Warriors may be on the field, but the real excitement happens in the stands. Welcome to the Warrzone, North Atlanta High School’s student section, where hundreds of students all come together as one. Step inside, though, and you’ll realize the Warrzone runs on more than just school spirit. It operates on rules, traditions, and a pecking order that every student quickly adapts to.
The Warrzone isn’t just chaos, it’s organized chaos. The seniors get their spotlight front and center of the stands, with the juniors trailing closely behind them, while the lowerclassmen drift towards the back. Step into the wrong spot and you’re bound to get yelled at, so move carefully and make yourself aware of the Warrzone’s unwritten rules. At her first experience in the Warrzone, freshman Reese Benner said, “It was really fun, but I’d never been yelled at more than how those seniors did.”
At the top of the student section are Warrzone leaders Roddey Bird and Hayes Harpeneau. They’re the ones who send school spirit radiating through the stands. Their job? To keep the chants loud, energy higher than the scoreboard, and make sure no one’s slacking off when the Dubs need support. They’re the heart of the whole program. “Being a Warrzone leader means the world to me,” Harpenau said. “I wake up every day, and all I can think about is Friday nights at Henderson Stadium.”
One of the Warrzones’ signature traditions is the student-led “rollercoaster.” When the clock hits halftime, the student section goes from being on their feet to finally getting a moment of rest and sitting down. A few seniors, including leaders Bird and Harpeneau, will stand at the front of the student section and lead everyone on the “rollercoaster.” Swaying from side to side in unison, mimicking the real motion of a rollercoaster, it’s one of the best moments of the whole night. Junior Pace Olsen said, “It’s the most exciting part of the night and a good way to get everyone hyped for the second half of the game.”
Of course, not every student is necessarily there to watch the game. Sure, they’ll dress for the theme and shout “go Dubs” here and there, but for some students, the game is just background noise during social hour. Being a social butterfly rather than a team supporter is semi-acceptable when you’re a lowerclassmen, but once you get closer to the front of the stands, you need to be on your feet and off your phone. Bird said, “When people are being lame, I scream at them and get a chant going.”
From the national anthem to the clock hitting zero, the Warrzone is a loud, sweaty, and unforgettable experience. Whether you’re there for the chants, the chaos, or the camaraderie, one thing’s for sure: the Dubs can’t win without their student section. So show up, show out, and take your place in the Warrzone.
