Whether in the stadium or in the arena, a roaring crowd can dictate the performance of the home team in any sport. Every cheer, chant, and yell can provide momentum and encouragement. At Gretna High School, this type of environment has manifested itself through the student section, also known as the Green Army.
“I think overall, student spirit was really boosted this season,” senior Caleb Haecker said. “I think we were really loud and exciting and, most importantly, we had a lot of fun.”
This year, Haecker embraced the role of being a student leader for the Green Army across multiple sports.
“It kind of just happened,” Haecker said. “I met Mr. Steele before school started, and we got talking for a while, and eventually I just became a leader for our student section. But I think being involved and putting myself out there is why I was able to step into this role.”
This collaboration between Haecker and GHS Assistant Principal Trent Steele created a successful student section environment this school year. While the title of Green Army has existed at GHS since 2009, Steele focused on reviving it and reigniting the Dragons’ fire.
“I tried to beat the drum, so to speak, of the branding of the Green Army, because it’s a good name for a student section,” Steele said. “A good student section can have a profound impact on the culture of a building, and there’s research to back that up. I took this seriously because if we can get our students to take pride in being Gretna Dragons, that really helps the culture and spirit of our school.”
In 1984, the president of Duke University, Terry Sanford, published what became known as the Avuncular Letter. At this time, Duke’s students had gained a reputation for having one of the most disrespectful student sections in all of college basketball, through their use of profanity and doing things such as spitting on people. In the letter, Sanford wrote to his students, “Think of something clever but clean, devastating but decent, mean but wholesome, witty and forceful.”
“When Mrs. Huttmann asked me to take point on this (The Green Army), I researched this letter, and it was an inspiration to me,” Steele said. “I think that’s exactly what a good student section is–devastating but decent.”
The Green Army took this concept and ran with it, creating a hyped environment at every game, especially during football season.
“We had a lot of really exciting (football) games this year,” Haecker said. “The playoff game against Norris that we won with a Hail Mary, the playoff game against Gretna East, and the 9/11 game that was broadcast on TV. Overall, student spirit was just really boosted throughout the football season.”
While Gretna’s football team garnered much support from the Green Army this year, Steele said he believes that there’s still work to be done outside of football.
“My biggest advice for next year would be that we need to figure out how to get more turnout and enthusiasm for winter and spring sports,” Steele said.
The Green Army will have to tackle this challenge not only without Haecker next year, but also without Steele, who announced earlier this semester that he will be an Assistant Principal at Kearney High School in 2026-27. With this shift in school staff, a shift in Green Army leadership will also be happening, mainly through GHS Activities Director Matthew Curtis.
“With Mr. Steele moving on to Kearney, I’m excited to step into a larger role with the Green Army,” Curtis said. “Mr. Steele did a great job of leading our students in establishing an environment with energy and involvement.”
On the students’ side of things, with Haecker graduating, new leadership will need to be built, and the seniors will need to step up.
“I want it to be as student-driven as possible,” Steele said. “I’d like for it to be a thing where students come forward and say, ‘I’d like to take this on.’”
As the Green Army enters a new era, Steele said he recognizes that they will need to adjust to the change and continue to build upon what he started, but he also celebrates the progress that was made this year in students showing up to games and being supportive of GHS sports.
“Even though my time here was short, I knew I could make a difference,” Steele said. “I think we made students feel a part of something bigger than themselves, and we sent a message to the people on the court and on the field that says, ‘you’re supported, and you’re cared for by other people.’ That’s ultimately the goal of the Green Army.”
