Normally, during football season we have a tradition of honoring the seniors on the football team as well as the cheer team. However, this year West decided to have football do their own senior night and have cheer senior night on a separate occasion, straying from tradition.

In theory this sounds pleasant to honor cheer on their own night. This night being February 5th, 2025. Our athletic director Derek Solano mentioned he talked to the head cheer coach, Megan Lundell, and they mutually agreed on moving cheers senior night to basketball season.

Ashlynne DeMontigny mentioned that this is not how she expected her senior night to go. “I didn’t think it was fair that cheer didn’t get to celebrate our seniors during our main season.” She adds how this feels like another way society pushes women’s sports to the side. DeMontigny mentions how she hopes their senior night is really over the top to “make up” for not being honored during football season.

In another perspective, Keila Molina says, “I feel like it gives cheer a chance to get their own ‘spotlight’ but it’s definitely not what I had in mind” She mentions how she’s seen her sister graduate in 2022 and get her recognition during football season. However, she does mention being open to new things and having an open mind about this “new tradition.”

I understand that this may be frustrating to the seniors on the cheer team. Hopefully West can deliver a night they’ll never forget. And hopefully these seniors enjoy the recognition they deserve.