To cheer on the Shockers at the Missouri Valley Tournament this last weekend, a number of students made the trip to see the Shockers play a total of three games. 

Even though it isn’t home at Koch Arena, the students found the experience to be just as exciting.

“The atmosphere is different. We have two sets of bands going … but it’s just different,” said Wichita State Pep Band percussionist Kyle Wheeler. “I don’t think it’s any less exciting. I think it’s game time.”

Along with the rest of the pep band, Wheeler helped Shocker fans get excited and cheer on the team by teaching them new cheers and adding some much-

needed noise. The Alumni Association also put on pep assemblies before each game to get fans excited and ready to cheer.

Adrianne Adams, another WSU student, said that one of the ways the tournament is different is that “if you lose a game, you don’t go on.”

The Missouri Valley Tournament is a single-elimination tournament, meaning that if a team loses, they’re done playing. This can certainly deter fans from making the trip if they don’t think their team can win, but despite a rough history with the tournament and having never won since it was moved to St. Louis, Shocker fans maintained faith in their team by coming out in large numbers.

The Shockers had a first round bye, and went on to beat Missouri State in the second round and Illinois State in the third round to make it into the Championship game against Creighton. WSU then lost in the final game leaving Creighton as the victor.