Cheer is one of the school’s most visible programs, and yet one of the least understood. The majority of the student body sees them at rallies or football games performing pristine routines, but few are aware of the hard work it takes to accomplish seemingly effortless performances, which require a high level of athleticism, coordination and trust.
Cheer has proved to be much more difficult than junior Tabitha Wilkins expected when she joined the team three years ago. The average after school practice during football and basketball seasons combine conditioning, strength building and stunt drills that serve to develop mental and physical toughness. The smiles, synchronized timing and lively energy of their routines develop through hours of repetition and patience.
“It doesn’t look that hard, but [cheer] is much harder than people think,” Wilkins said. “It takes a lot of personal stamina. Sometimes our routines must be repeated over and over again, even if you’re tired or don’t get it right.”
For the team, safety is their first consideration. Their routines are governed by orderliness and exactness, with each movement being choreographed down to the minutest details. With this in mind, establishing trust and confidence on the team is critical, as cheerleading comes with significant dangers. One of the unspoken rules of cheer is to not drop the flyer, but trust isn’t just physical cooperation on the mat—it’s about sportsmanship and reliability.
“It’s so important to make sure that your flyer is safe, because there could be serious, threatening injuries if you drop them. There’s consequences if you do drop your flyer [in practice], whether it’s running or intense conditioning,” Wilkins said.
For junior Lottie Gardner, the mental side of cheer is equally as important. She recalls moments before a performance as nerve racking and driven by adrenaline, but her three years of experience have taught her to fuel it into focus.
“Even if the stunts aren’t hitting, you keep pushing,” Gardner said. “Things will usually work out if you believe [they] will.”
Both Wilkins and Gardner unhesitatingly point to the Homecoming pep rally as the major event of the season, as it is the climax of previous months spent training.
“It is the one time that the student body is watching,” Wilkins said. “It makes all of our hard work as a team feel so much more valuable and really puts our efforts into a positive perspective.”
Cheer is not merely an exhibition of school spirit, but an exhibition of physical rigor and teamwork that, when considered, are impossible to miss while watching. It is a sport built upon sturdy foundations of dependability, collaboration and mere excellence, but also is a sport frequently undervalued by students. Unlike most sports, cheerleaders develop an unspoken rhythm and deep sense of trust within their team, all while serving as an inspiring force and a positive representation of the school that should no longer go unnoticed.
