Tensions ran high at Malvern Prep’s basketball court on a Tuesday night in February as Fords decked in 90s-themed attire poured into the bleachers, cheering on the basketball team on their most important game day. The student section roared with support. At the center of it all was Sixth Former Colin Decker.
Many know Decker as the charismatic, motivational student leader, but his journey didn’t start that way. Joining the school as a Second Former, Decker was shy and mostly kept to himself.
“It was hard to meet people because of COVID restrictions, and there weren’t many opportunities to get to know people because there were no sports. I was in one classroom the entire day,” Decker said.
High school wasn’t much different at first. Decker kept a low profile, sticking mostly to football and lacrosse. But Sixth Formers stressed the importance of supporting teams and attending events, which helped Decker break out of his shell.
“The seniors that year did a great job of getting kids to sports games,” Decker said. “I was able to meet a lot of people and make new friends.”
Feeling more comfortable, Decker joined the student council and Academic Mentorship Program as a Fourth Former.
“As the student council vice president, I realized I could have a big impact on the community, since people trusted me enough to elect me to a major leadership role in my grade,” Decker said.
Decker’s involvement continued to grow, joining the Signet Society and projecting the loudest voice in the chorus of the Fords’ cheering section. Those opportunities didn’t just change how he interacted with the school, they also helped him on the field.
“My leadership roles helped me gain confidence in myself,” Decker said. “I don’t get nervous as much, and I can perform well under pressure now.”
Decker takes pride in cheering on other teams, most notably football and basketball. As a Fourth and Fifth Former, he noticed that Haverford’s school spirit was lacking compared to other schools.
“I noticed the football game between Malvern Prep and La Salle had massive student sections from both sides,” Decker said. “I wondered why Haverford couldn’t be like them. I didn’t want us being outdone in school spirit.”
As a Sixth Former, Decker and his friends made a big push.
“I started promoting more school sports events by announcing them in assemblies and hanging up creative flyers for the game for students to see. My goal was to publicize the games to the student body and to influence kids who may not typically go,” Decker said.
Decker also put significant effort into promoting school sporting events through social media, informing team group chats.
At the soul of it, Decker tries to promote the importance of brotherhood and support.
“I think attending sporting events is important for the school because it’s a great opportunity to have fun and enjoy the Haverford experience out-of-school hours,” Decker said. “It’s also a great example of the brotherhood we have in our school by supporting our fellow classmates on the field or court. It’s much more than just watching the sport. It’s about building community and showing athletes support when they need it most.”
As a lacrosse goalie, Decker understands how athletes need fan support.
“I’ve been able to see how beneficial the student section is for an athlete, experiencing it both as a spectator and a competitor. There was a big crowd of students at the lacrosse game against Landon this year who cheered us on and supported us, ultimately helping us win the game,” Decker said.
“I think Haverford has a lot more school spirit now, and our school is a lot more united now from freshmen through seniors.”
colin decker ’25
Decker’s leadership skills have not only helped him gain confidence in himself, but helped others do the same.
“Decker is a leader on and off the field,” Sixth Former Reed Campbell said. “Whether it is helping clean the locker room after practice or keeping the team locked in when we need to be, he leads by example and has earned respect from the whole team—for much more than his skills as a lacrosse player.”
What started as a step outside his comfort zone has now positively impacted the lives of many Haverford students.
“I think Haverford has a lot more school spirit now, and our school is a lot more united now from freshmen through seniors,” Decker said. “There is more camaraderie.”
Being the spirit leader wasn’t just about trying to get people to show up at Haverford athletic events, but to teach Haverford students how to support one another and build a culture of unity and school spirit.
“I hope that future students will continue to support each other by showing out to events,” Decker said. “The [student cheering section] is a vital part of our school and important to the well-being of our community.”
