Sam Swem wasn’t feeling 100-percent after last Friday’s boys and girls basketball doubleheader between Buchanan and Brandywine.

But it was all worth it for the Buchanan High School senior.

Swem and his fellow high school students had a chance to show off their school pride as part of the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Battle of the Fans.

Buchanan High School is a finalist for the competition for the third consecutive year. The Bucks won the event in 2013 and was a finalist in 2014.

Joining Buchanan as high school finalists are Beaverton, Dowagiac, St. Johns and Yale.

The contest recognizes the top student cheering section from among MHSAA members. The winner will be announced Feb. 20 and will be invited to the Class B boys basketball semifinals at Michigan State’s Breslin Center on March 27th to be recognized and receive a championship banner.

Members of the MHSAA student advisory council and MHSAA staff members visited Buchanan last Friday night to grade Buchanan’s work.

Music, dancing and loud cheers were witnessed throughout the night.

“I felt we were crazy-loud,” said Swem. “My head has never hurt like it has tonight. My voice hurts. I need some chai tea.”

Swem saw the event from a different perspective this year. He was on the basketball team the last two years. His travel soccer schedule conflicted with playing basketball this year.

“This year I got a chance to be a part of it and it was an absolute blast,” Swem said. “It’s a great way to go out for my senior year. I have some fantastic memories.”

Others that were first time participants were freshmen Jessica Lee, Zoe Mittan and Emily Branch.

Lee said she lost her voice during the evening after cheering so much.

“It’s really fun,” said Lee. “We’re a small town, but we all love each other and we’re supportive of all our sports.”

Last Friday was called “Herd Night” and was everyone was encouraged to wear maroon, white and black. Some students painted their faces to celebrate the evening. Others wore beads around their necks.

“I love being part of the Herd,” Mittan said. “Everybody comes together as one and everybody screams and shouts.”

To help remember the special night, Lee, Mittan and Branch had another student take a photo of them after the boys basketball game.

“I think it’s cool that we all come together as a family and cheer our hardest to support our teams,” Branch said.

What got the biggest thrill out of Lee and Branch was when two students played guitar at halftime of the boys basketball game.

“That was pretty cool,” Lee said.

Mittan has no doubt who should win the “Battle of the Fans.”

“Of course we’ll win it,” she said. “The Herd is back. Welcome to the woods.”

Many people are involved with organizing the event. There’s a spirit club of 20 to 30 students who meet regularly. Teachers, who are called shepherds, are advisors and administrators provide support.

“I can’t thank everyone enough for how hard they’ve worked,” Swem said. “I want to give a big, big shout out to our assistant principal and all our staff members. Our athletic director, Fred Smith, has been phenomenal as well. They’ve been a big help in all of this. They don’t get enough credit.”

Smith sees the competition as bringing out the best in students and he is optimistic that the school will continue to be a part of the Battle of the Fans.

“Kids have fun and are positive and that is what it’s all about,” said Smith. “We want to maintain that.

“We think we’re doing it right to continue this because our middle school is involved in this. They have a junior Herd. We have traveling pep rallies to our elementary kids and we try to get them involved.”