athletics/queens & beaux 257 fun on the sidelines A big part of the social club experience at Harding was being involved in club sports, not only for the members, but also for the club’s beaux or queens. In addition to being overall supporters for the clubs they belonged to, beaux and queens often took roles as coaches and cheerleaders for their clubs’ athletic teams. For junior Delta Gamma Rho beau Jay McCoy, coaching went beyond just showing up on game day. “We held a few practices, drew up plays beforehand and made arm bands with the plays on them [for the girls],” he said. McCoy said his favorite thing about coaching was seeing the girls get as passionate about the game as he and the other beaux did. “I just try to let them have a good time,” McCoy said. “It’s fun to get serious and what not, but in the end I just want girls to enjoy playing regardless of the outcome.” As a participant in club sports and also athletic director for Pi Theta Phi, junior Julya Bentley acknowledged how nice it was to have beaux helping out with the sports. “My favorite thing about the beaux is their involvement with club sports,” Bentley said. “Our beaux always are our base coaches in softball, [and] it is always helpful and encouraging to know that once I hit that ball I will have a beau waiting for me at first [base] to tell me whether or not to keep running.” While queens did not help coach in club athletics, their presence at games was just as important for bringing support and encouragement to the guys in the club they represented. “We bring posters and snacks, like popcorn and sunflower seeds,” sophomore Beta Omega Chi queen Lindleigh Whetstone said. “We are basically the cheerleaders at the games, and I try to get the crowd involved.” Inevitably there were times during games that became heated on the court or field between club teams, and the queens were also helpful in calming the guys down. “During games when the guys are at their breaking point about to burst out I usually go down to where they are and remind them to keep their good attitudes,” Whetstone said. “The members [of BOX] really try to focus on maintaining Christ-like attitudes throughout the game, and they do a great job.” Both beaux and queens enjoyed the roles they played either as coaches or supporters from the stands, but the honor to serve a club as a beau or a queen also went beyond sports. “It’s an honor being a beau,” Ju Go Ju beau junior Brandon Johnson said. “I like to help the girls if they aren’t familiar with the sport. My sister and girlfriend and a lot of my friends are in the club, so it’s fun to interact with them and goof around.” Emily Hauptli beaux coach and queens cheer in club sports
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