SOUTH HADLEY, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Nearly 400 South Hadley students walked out of school Wednesday morning to protest the failure of a budget override that threatens to eliminate sports and extracurricular programs.

The walkout began as a standout at the center of the football field, where students gathered to share their reactions to Tuesday’s vote. Students then marched through the streets chanting “no sports, no arts, no us.”

“So really shock, disbelief and disappointment,” said Colin Zrunig, a senior.

“I was heartbroken,” said Isabella Sotiropoulos, a senior.

Zrunig, who has played soccer his entire life, said he cannot imagine a world without sports or activities. “They help students find who they are, their friends, their family, who they’re going to grow up with,” he added.

Sotiropoulos said the impact extends beyond current students. “I’m graduating and this still is affecting me so deeply. Like, I know that I’m leaving these students behind and they will not be getting the same opportunities that I had,” she noted.

Senior Maloory Levreault said she was frustrated with the outcome. “It made me feel like as a community. We just kind of lost sight of what’s important, like our community, just empathy and education,” she said.

Levreault said the walkout gave students a way to voice their frustrations. “I just really want to confront the community, confront the voters of the consequences of their decision, to let them know how they’ve hurt us, how they’ve impacted us,” Levreault explained.

Staff at the high school were advised not to participate in the walkout or they could face disciplinary action. Teachers lined the fence, showing support from a distance.

“It means the world to us. Our teachers are sort of our rocks throughout this entire high school experience,” said Brady Denniston, a senior. “They’re always there for us and extremely supportive.”

Junior class Vice President Mikayla Weaver said the problem is not going away. “A lot of people are looking to leave if they can’t play their sports,” she added. “We don’t want to see that, it’s our family.”

Junior class President Kate Phillips said the junior class feels let down, especially with most of them spending the last 12 years of school together. “Yeah, I think we just really want to call attention to the state legislature and the Massachusetts government in general and just say you’re letting us down. We’re the number one state for public education and we have a school district with no sports, no AP classes, no extracurriculars. I mean, how does that happen? Like, you know?” she asked.

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