Leibforth leads forth Superfans

The fans, particularly the student section, at high school sporting events are probably the last thing people think to credit when the team wins. But after all, who is it that revs up the team when they need it the most? The fans.

St. Charles East always had a solid student fan turnout at games, especially football, but nothing like this year. Led by senior Dan Leibforth, the Saints' Superfans have really got themselves noticed with players and coaches.

Leibforth, however, isn't just your typical student fan. The former player takes being leader of the Superfans seriously, yet still manages to keep the group energetic and happy. And why wouldn't the fans be that way? The football team is 5-1 and looking solid this year.

I spent Friday night observing Leibforth and his pack of Superfans cheer on the Saints, as they topped Neuqua Valley 17-14 at Norris Stadium on Homecoming in St. Charles.

West Aurora has the Rowdies. Batavia has the Wild Bunch. Both groups of student cheering sections have been around for years.

St. Charles East, however, never had an official group of student fans until the beginning of this school year, when senior Dan Leibforth formed the Superfans.

They are loud. They are crazy. They are covered in black and orange. They haven't missed a game and have perfected their craft since Week 1, when St. Charles East beat Batavia on the road.

"We are the 12th man on the field," said senior Superfan Chris Burgess, one of four presidents of the club. "We are helping the team, and the (Saints') record shows that. It's a good time."

Leibforth came up with the idea of the Superfans last season, when he suffered a football career-ending injury.

He played football with the Saints for three seasons. As a junior on varsity against Neuqua Valley, Leibforth tackled an opponent hard and was unconscious for a few minutes.

When he regained composure, Leibforth was numb from the neck down. Moments later, he was able to move. He thought he was OK after that, but the numbness returned later that night. A doctor later told him he was almost paralyzed and that he could not play football anymore.

Bummed out and on the sidelines for the rest of the season, Leibforth had a revelation the next week, when the Saints played rival St. Charles North.

"I realized how much the crowd affects the game and how inspirational they are, so I said, 'You know what? Why don't I lead the charge?' " said Leibforth, who admitted that it is "killing him" he can't be out there playing with his friends.

So that's what Leibforth did -- he formed the Superfans. He got a solid group of students involved and has led the pack, most of the time shirtless, painted and sometimes wearing a bright orange wig to the games.

Leibforth said the Superfans have been perfecting their skills since Week 1, when things weren't all that organized. Since then, there have been weekly meetings on Wednesdays, where anywhere between 150 to 200 students show up to find out how to make the next football game even better for the Saints.

On game day, the group starts to gather after school and will usually hit the local party store for anything orange and black. Body painting and a game or two of bags soon follows. The Superfans begin to file into the stadium around 15 minutes before game time. They don't wait in line like the other fans and have one full section of the bleachers on the Saints' side owned. Seniors stand in the first few rows and everyone else is behind them.

And what Leibforth says, goes.

"Being a senior, everyone looks up to you, but at the same time, everyone is here to have fun," said Leibforth, who was also a part of the homecoming court at halftime of Friday's game. "No one wants it disorganized. Someone has to take charge."

"He rules the Superfan club," added Burgess, whose face was painted in orange and black stripes. "What he's done with this is great for the school. It gets the kids involved and it's awesome for everyone."

The Saints gave the Superfans everything in the world to cheer about, as they topped Neuqua Valley, something they haven't done in 7 years. The win also gave St. Charles East a great chance to win the Upstate Eight Conference title, something the Wildcats have done the past three seasons.

The Superfans didn't depart the minute the game was over. They stuck around until the last player, senior defensive back Matt Johnson, left the field.

Johnson, who has known Leibforth most of his life, said he appreciates what the Superfans have done for the Saints.

"It means a lot," Johnson said. "They are crazy. They get us going. They are so loud. They help us so much."

Even St. Charles East coach Ted Monken had good things to say about Leibforth and the Superfans.

"Danny, he's great, he's the best," Monken said about his former player. "We are happy he is doing things the right way. Believe it or not, we've gotten a lot of compliments on them being the right type of fans, as opposed to being negative. It's very pleasing knowing that we don't have a reputation of being a classless act. We love having him up there. It's great having him around."

The Superfans will not stop after the football season is over. They will continue to make appearances at basketball and baseball games, even though Leibforth is an infielder on the Saints' baseball team.

The Superfans have even been spotted at volleyball matches and golf outings -- but got in some trouble for being too loud.

Even though Leibforth graduates this year, he hopes the younger classes will continue what he started.

"St. Charles East is huge on tradition," said Leibforth, who is a member of the National Honor Society. "There are juniors who stand a row behind us who are listening and taking notes. Everyone is getting ready for next year."

"It's just a good time," Burgess added. "Hopefully, the juniors and sophomores learn from us and carry this on."