Longtime South Portland Residents Justin Browne and Sumner Ellis have become known as the greatest fans to ever set foot on the SMCC Campus. In fact, their endless support and enthusiasm before, after and between the games has earned them the title “G.O.A.T. superfans” – the Greatest of All Time, a well-deserved accolade.

 Every game day, Justin and Sumner can be seen in the front row of the stands, cheering on the SMCC basketball team. Justin, who attended his first game in 2018, and Sumner, whose first was in 2022, have been best friends for years. The pair first met while working together in the SMCC Dining Hall. Although Justin no longer works there, when they are both off of work, they are nearly inseparable. The two spend time playing basketball, listening to music, going live on Instagram, or gaming. However, their favorite activity remains attending SMCC basketball games. Through these games, they further grew their bond, while developing a strong connection to the Seawolves community. 

The two typically come in during warmups and sit in the front row of the student section, giving fist pumps and handshakes to the players. Justin’s favorite part of the game is “getting to meet new people and making new friends,” while Sumner’s is “seeing the players ball out.”  Once the game starts, you can see Justin waving his hands to motivate the crowd and Sumner fist-pumping after an impressive dunk. As former player Jack Pyzynski said, “Sumner and Justin are one of the biggest home court advantages you could ask for. They come to nearly every home game and their energy is always contagious. Those guys are the G.O.A.T.s.” 

 After the game, Justin and Sumner usually wait at the main entrance for players to leave the locker room. Whether it’s a win or a loss, both are always very supportive to the players. As Sean Bosia, an SMCC player from Dracut, Mass, put it , “They always make sure to say what’s up to every player after the game and let them know why they played well.” 

Sumner further emphasized Sean’s comment, saying, “My favorite part about talking to the team is saying how great the guys are, giving my best advice, guidance, and saying inspirational and motivational stuff.” 

           Standing at  the main entrance, Sumner and Justin begin to talk about more than just the players themselves, revealing their deeper connection to the community.  “My favorite part of the Seawolves community is getting to talk to the parents about their sons,” said Sumner. Kathleen Quinn, Parent of Andrew, a third year on the Men’s Basketball team, echoed Sumner’s sentiment saying she greatly enjoys the enthusiasm and support that Sumner and Justin provide to the team. 

Justin and Sumner have many cherished memories  from their tenure as Seawolves Superfans. For Justin, it’s simple: “My favorite moment of being a Seawolf fan is when you guys win games.”. Likewise, for Sumner, “My favorite moment is when we won the championship, and Justin took a pic with the team.” In 2022, the men’s basketball team won the United States Small Conference Association national championship in Richmond, Virginia. Justin, Sumner and the Seawolf community awaited their triumphant return to greet and celebrate them. After the crowd dissipated, Sumner and Justin took the aforementioned photo. That photo will forever be ingrained in Sumner and Justin’s eyes as the moment that solidified their love for the Seawolf community and basketball team. 

Justin and Sumner will go down as some of the best superfans to ever step foot on the SMCC campus and in the gymnasium. Moreover, they perfectly represent the deeper meaning of sports: bringing people together both on and off the court.