This weekend, I covered my very first sporting event for The Daily Eastern News. I’ve been reading and designing the sports pages for nearly two years now, and I’ve only ever gone to a few sporting events — all football games.

But this weekend, I was covering volleyball. And it was awesome. I got to finally see these athletes I’ve been reading about for years — who are sort of celebrities in my mind — in real life.

I also got to learn first-hand just how tall volleyball players are as I trailed behind them for interviews after the match.

Even though the Panthers lost both weekend matches — against Southeast Missouri Friday and Tennessee-Martin Saturday — Lantz Arena was full of energy.

Friday’s Charleston vs. Mattoon high school football game brought in quite the crowd for Friday’s match, filling up about half of the arena.

Not only that, but student athletes come to support each other. The women’s soccer team spelled ‘Panthers’ on their stomachs and the swimming team had a hoard of cheers up their sleeves — well, except for the three men who painted ‘EIU’ on their bare chests.

Honestly, these athletes are talented.

Maybe I’m not the best person to make such a decision, as the only volleyball I know is when a group of friends and I get together for some beach volleyball in the summer, but they looked great out there. The match was so fast-paced, and was great entertainment.

So here’s my advice: Go see at least one sporting event this year; Preferably one from each sport, just to get the full taste of Eastern sports, or the New Era.

But even better than that, go do something outside of your comfort zone. I never thought I’d get to sit at a press table at a sporting event, hearing every word the players say on the court, and every scolding word from coaches as players come to the bench.

I was nervous all week after I said I’d cover the matches. I couldn’t focus on anything except making sure I pronounced Reynae Hutchinson’s name correctly (it’s Renee, not Ray-Nay, by the way). I memorized about half of the roster, read everything I could about volleyball, and fell asleep repeating potential interview questions.

And it was the most exciting event I’ve ever covered — not just because I saw a coach snap a pen in half or had a ball come soaring over the press table three times.

Even if you don’t know much about sports, attend a game this year. I did, and I had to write about it afterward. You won’t have the same pressure I did. I’m sure your high school gym class provided you with the basics of each sport, so you’ll at least know the gist. Just go. It will be worth it.

Plus, our athletes deserve to be supported and deserve to have a roaring crowd cheering them on, not crickets.

Ashley Holstrom can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].