While most people notice the big plays on the field during football, there’s another team working hard on the sidelines, the cheerleaders. They are there for football season, volleyball season, basketball season, unified season, wrestling season, and boys volleyball season, then they have 1 month off and do it all over again. From early practices to late-night games, they spend countless hours perfecting hair, smiles, jumps, chants, and routines to make it all look effortless. “The girls on my team are the hardest-working people I know.” Says Mady Culler, 11.
Cheerleading takes more strength and discipline than some realize. Stunts require time, trust, balance, strength, and discipline; one small mistake can make or break a routine or stunt. Still, they push themselves for little recognition, from their practice spaces getting moved from gyms, to auditoriums, to cafeteria stages, to hallways, they always push through. Not just for their team but for the school they represent. Their positivity isn’t just part of the performance but something they choose even when things get hard. “Sometimes I get scared to go so high up in the air, but I know my team is depending on me, so I have to push through.” Livvy Childress, 10.
Balancing practices, performances, and school can leave athletes feeling overworked, but they don’t let it show. Instead, they continue to support one another, building a team that relies on one another. Cheerleaders may not always be the center of attention, but their impact is constant. Through every chant and routine, they prove positivity and dedication. “I’ve been carried off the mat, but I still carry that team.” Says Alyssa Miller, 11.
