By Siena Houk, Staff Writer
Winter Cheer tryouts have officially wrapped up, and the energy from the event is still buzzing. Dozens of hopeful girls brought their best jumps, stunts, and routines to the mat, all attempting a coveted spot on the winter cheer squad. The judges were impressed by the determination and enthusiasm displayed by every willing participant, making the final decisions as challenging as ever. For those who made the team, the hard work is just beginning as they prepare to bring school spirit to winter sports. For all who participated, it was a celebration of talent, teamwork, and the love of cheerleading.
The events at tryouts are a mystery to most who haven’t experienced them first-hand, but sophomore Bella O’Rourke says “we all were given a dance to learn and had some time to prepare. We were then told to show off what we learned to the coaches.” Sophomore Masa Altamimi continues on, saying that they performed in “groups of three. I liked that it was in groups of three because I felt less pressured and actually could focus on learning the dance and doing my best.”
As for the atmosphere, sophomore Mia Craig enjoyed the “feeling of companionship while trying out. Seeing other people in the same position as me being so kind and welcoming had to be my favorite part of tryouts. I was a little bit nervous coming into it due to never trying out for cheer before but the whole experience was a positive one for me.”
For Masa, this was an entirely new experience for her because she has never “tried out for something like cheerleading. I have never cheered before so this was supposed to be something new and fun to try with one of my best friends, Mia.” School sports have always been something that brings friends together and makes new friendships, especially cheer. Spending time with people outside of school while partaking in an activity that you all enjoy is a great way to find people with similar interests.
Sophomore Isha Patel explains that learning “the jumps was somewhat difficult because we came in not knowing them. At least it was for me because I haven’t tried out before. Same thing went for learning the dances. It was fun for me because I love to dance and I understand why it was important for us to do.” To see their full potential, coaches give the athletes some of the dances (cheers) they are going to be expected to know during the season. Once the dance is learned, athletes must perform it, as well as the jumps they were taught, for the three coaches on the panel.
This year’s tryouts were a testament to the talent and passion within our school community. From the high-energy routines to the supportive atmosphere, every participant gave it their all, making the judges’ decisions especially challenging. To those who made the team, congratulations on this fun journey ahead, and to those who did not, keep persevering, next season could be your time to shine!