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If you have been to a Wildcat football game - home or away - in the past two years and wondered who is that funny, energetic kid leading the raucous, color-coordinated Wildcat student section, congratulations - you have entered The Love Zone.

The Chuck Love Zone, that is. Love, a senior at Chisago Lakes High School, got the idea to lead a student cheering section when he attended an Irondale game with his brother as a middle-schooler. "I saw their fan section, "he said "and knew I wanted to do something like that someday." Love wasn't able to fulfill his ambition his freshman or sophomore year because he played football.

But things came together quickly last year. And Love is the first one to point out that this isn't just about him. "We're the Superfans," he said of the student section. "We come up with the cheers together. This year, the cheerleaders are getting involved with us more. And our fans are what make this happen."

Some of the Superfans' cheers occasionally stepped over the line of what Wildcat administrators considered to be good taste, but things have now settled down a bit. Love said "Principal Ertl thanked us for being respectful and said 'you guys were awesome.' We're now trying to keep it to the PG of chanting."

Love has been very active in his years at Chisago Lakes High School. He played six different sports - football, soccer, basketball, baseball, wrestling and tennis. He is also an actor. In middle school, he tried out for several plays but didn't get any roles. As a freshman, he got a minor lead in "Annie", and the rest is history. His sophomore year he had the lead role of Chad in "High School Musical". His junior year, the lead role of Will in "Oklahoma"; and this year, he will play the lead Cornelius in "Hello, Dolly!". He will be going on a trip to New York with DECA, a national student business organization. Love also sings with a choir from the Emmanuel Christian Center in Spring Lake Park that recently took second in a national competition.

This coming February, Love plans to audition for a performing arts college based in Los Angeles (the audition will take place in Minnesota). If he's accepted, he plans to attend school in Los Angeles and pursue a career in acting. Other options for Love include attending UMD, Bethel or North Central University to study business.

The last two home games for Love as the leader of the Superfans will be tomorrow night against Totino Grace and two weeks from tomorrow against St. Francis. If you haven't had the chance yet, come on out to Chisago Lakes High School to see some great high school football and check out Chuck Love and the Superfans.

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