Cheerleading isn’t often given the recognition that it is a sport. When some people see a high school cheer team, they only see a group of girls who cheer on other athletes from the sidelines. But once I interviewed some of West High School’s cheerleaders, I got to see that they are much more than just that. These cheerleaders play a huge role in creating the school spirit and bringing motivation to the players and the stands.
After interviewing junior Giselle Huiltron, she walked me through what regular practice looks like. A regular practice for them normally starts in the cafeteria. “As a group, we put the tables up and get our mats to stretch afterwards.” After they stretch, depending on what type of practice they are having, they either start practicing their stunts or go right into dance.
When I asked Huiltron how she stays motivated during practice, she said that she always tries to see the best version of herself and thinks about how good she is and how much better she could be. She says “I think the most important thing that makes our team successful is how much we care about each other and wanting what’s best for the team instead of wanting what’s best for ourselves individually. I think striving to be great as a team is probably one of the best aspects that we have.”
I also interviewed Senior Alexa Ortiz, who has been doing cheer all her four years at West. Before high school, she was a dancer and a gymnast for many years. She said, “The reason I started cheer was because of my prior experience in dance and gymnastics, and I knew that I wanted to try something new that also required abilities that I had.” I asked her about her coach, Coach Megan, and how she helps the team improve. She said her coach is very optimistic, and that she’s someone who pushes them to be their best. If they have any doubts about themselves, whether it’s individually or as a team, she helps them overcome that. Ortiz says, “Although we are the cheerleaders, she is always the one cheering us on.”
Cheer is much more than just a sport and being a team. They’re a united family who depend on each other when needed. Being a cheerleader comes with many benefits and is a beautiful thing to create bonds and be able to perform with each other.
