Get loud. If senior Devin Maki, Pep Club co-president, could emphasize one thing during football games, it would be just that: get loud. According to his peers, Maki is very good at doing so.
Maki is known for being energetic and spirited at Pep Club, especially during the football games.
“I hope that everyone enjoys coming out,” Maki said. “I don’t want people to come out because they feel responsible. I want them to come out to have fun.”
Both Maki and co-president Sam DeCosmo have done a lot to encourage the crowd to have fun, even if it means putting himself out there a little more than the rest.
“Last year, me and Sam, we both got overalls, and we just wanted to have fun with it,” Maki said.
Not only does Maki cheer on South’s sports teams, but he is on one himself. According to Decosmo, Maki is one of three captains to lead the boys varsity basketball program.
“Definitely in the offseason he probably worked harder than most,” DeCosmo said. “He’s always there, he’s always dedicated. Even the couple of times where I wasn’t feeling it, he was like, ‘Let’s go.’”
As a captain, Maki acknowledges that a lot of players look up to him.
“A lot of anything that I try to do as far as leadership goes is lead by example,” Maki said. “I try to work hard so that other guys can see it […] and hopefully people follow me.”
Maki’s leadership is inspired by past Pep Club leaders. According to Maki, he has been looking up to the Pep Club leaders since he first joined the club. He was especially impressed by their ability to balance their school work, Pep Club and varsity sports.
“I remember as a sophomore seeing [South graduates] Abby Keller and Troy Farsakian up there,” Maki said. “They were always leading.”
According to Maki, he has not always been a natural leader or someone who could always rally the people around him. He said he was nervous as a freshman and sophomore about getting up in front of people at Pep Club.
“I didn’t know if I was welcome there,” Maki said. “But I know now that if I would have walked into the Pep Club meeting when I was younger, the older people would have happily had me there and been excited that I was there.”
Maki has put in a lot of effort this year into Pep Club, according to DeCosmo. Maki, DeCosmo and Pep Club sponsor Angela Nelson would meet over the summer at Nelson’s house to prepare for the upcoming year.
“We would […] create a couple signs, get some chants down [and] get some people together,” Decosmo said. “We created a huge Facebook group and tried to get everyone involved and comfortable with the people around us.”
These meetings ultimately prepared Pep Club for two key games of the year. Despite the football team claiming credit, DeCosmo feels that Maki and himself were able to get the Pep Club loud enough that it caused Maine South to fumble the ball. Both Decosmo and Maki were also very pleased with the student section at the homecoming game.
“I remember having the football guys come up after and saying, ‘The stands were totally packed, thank you so much,’” Maki said. “That was what really made it exciting for me. They realized what we put into it and it helped them be able to play better and get excited themselves.”
According to Nelson, due to the fact that it’s Nelson’s first year as Pep Club sponsor, Maki has helped her learn the ropes.
“Devin [helps] keep me grounded,” Nelson said. “I accept [his advice] because I’m new at this, and I respect what they have to say and their opinions. It’s always about the kids [at Pep Club].”
According to Maki, he is pleased with the enthusiasm of Pep Club this year, and wants it to continue at this level after he graduates.
“I didn’t put as much time as I did in the Pep Club to have it die out after this year,” Maki said. “I would love to see it continue and have people excited in the school.”
