The basketball team won super-sectionals, but I am the real winner. 

For the first time since shoulder pads and teased mullets were in style, the Kaneland High School basketball team has finally been able to secure a place in the IHSA state finals. Although it has been a tremendous season (the Knights, after all, are heading to Champaign with the only undefeated record in Illinois), most students are not worried about the outcome of the game. Instead, they are worried about their seating arrangements. 

When administration announced school would be cancelled on Friday, March 13, in order for students and staff to attend the game, everyone was ecstatic. The second they announced that tickets for the limited, 150-seat student section would be determined through a raffle, chaos broke loose. 

While I can acknowledge that we as students do not always – or often – seem to have our priorities straight, there is some legitimacy behind our current seating concerns. Personally, I would prefer to be seated next to my friends, and have other students fight for the leftover seating far behind us. 

I haven’t been to any games this year, but I believe I’ve earned a seat in the front section. When I received the email securing my spot, I realized I was chosen by IHSA themselves. After all, I am a senior, so I deserve to witness a state win in the front row. 

Although I’ve won my place, I’m still expected to pay for the $15 ticket, so I’m not sure how much of a lottery this really is. I don’t know, I’m not convinced. At least I’m not one of the students posting a story on Snapchat begging to buy a student section ticket off someone for any price. You think I’m joking? My friend Jade bought a ticket for $60, a 400% price increase, before it was announced that reselling would not be allowed. So unfortunately, she was unable to get her hands on a ticket afterall, which really sucks for me because I was looking forward to sitting by her. Whatever, as long as I have my ticket. 

At the end of the day, I’ll be front row interacting with my friends and paying attention to the audience for my cue to clap.