When thinking about what it means to be on the SCHS Spirit Squad, many believe high kicks, pom poms, ponytail bows and a big smile are all that is needed. To the cheerleaders, being on Spirit Squad consists of much more. They feel that on the outside, cheerleading can look laid back, but in reality, it consists of dedication, responsibility and hard work.
Being a part of Spirit Squad often involves an emphasis on the team’s appearance. Cheerleader sophomore Aina Dever explained that the aesthetic of being a cheerleader plays a major role in their presentation. They have to perform for everyone and keep a positive attitude at all times to maintain the school-spirited impression.
“No matter if you’re on the field, or on the sideline, or in school… you’re there to perform for people, so of course the aesthetic is going to play a part in it,” Dever said.
The constant positive attitude can take a toll on a cheerleader or dance team’s mentality. Dever shared that maintaining focus can be exhausting as she has to stay concentrated throughout the routine in order to minimize mistakes.
“If you’re not mentally there, then the whole stunt can fall. I feel like physically, it’s not as demanding as other sports, but the mental makes up for that,” Dever said.
Despite the effortless image they may present, responsibility falls on the Spirit Squad’s shoulders. Dance team member junior Sahasra Vankayalapati noted that others will look toward the cheer and dance teams to set an example for school spirit.
“We have to put on a good, positive attitude all the time because people view cheerleaders as the people who have the most school spirit and are the most happy,” Vankayalapati said.
In addition to the mental taxing, the physical activity that sideline cheering and routines require can take a physical toll as well. Cheerleader senior Xavier Trujeque observed that the exhaustion that follows practicing stunts repeatedly can cause a cheerleader to slip up.
“Catching someone is not always going to go right. You’re gonna get an elbow to the eye or an elbow to the stomach. It definitely is quite a bit of a physical toll from the constant up and down,” Trujeque said.
A common misconception about cheer is the level of commitment the team requires. SCHS Spirit Squad advisor and cheer coach Erica Fuller shared she does not want her cheerleaders to think that all cheerleading consists of is a smile and a uniform. It requires hard work and dedication almost year round. Tryouts are held before the previous school year ends, and practices are held until the end of the season, which means a summer full of practicing routines.
“I think a lot of people assume that they’re just gonna come out here, cheer on a couple football games and be done and not realize that it’s a huge commitment every weekend, every week, up until about February,” Fuller said.
Similarly, Vankayalapati believes those who do not participate in dancing and cheerleading do not understand the effort that goes into memorizing and practicing routines.
“We learn all these skills and spend all this time getting the routines down, but they only see the couple moments where we’re performing,” Vankayalapati said. “When you’re performing, it’s only two minutes, but you’re spending months preparing for these routines.”
Despite the time commitment and possible injuries, cheerleading can have a positive impact on a cheerleader’s mentality that reaches past maintaining a smile throughout a routine. Fuller said that staying in a positive mindset consistently throughout performances and cheering has pushed herself and her cheerleaders to build stronger presentation skills.
“They’re able to make speeches, stand up in front of crowds. It’s a lot easier for them to choose that, and their hard work and dedication, obviously, helps with building strong work ethics,” Fuller said.
Trujeque shared that cheerleading prepared him for branching out to other school activities and put himself out of his comfort zone to meet new people.
“If it wasn’t for cheer, I wouldn’t have gone to as many football games,” Trujeque said. “It helped me eventually become the junior spirit representative, where I would push myself to be more involved in school activities, such as BOTC and homecoming.”
Regardless of the impact cheering can have on the Spirit Squad, the athletes try to maintain their lighthearted attitude throughout their routines, building each other up to make the most out of their experience.
“At games, we are always motivating each other and trying to show each other that we’re here for each other,” Trujeque said. “Whether or not we succeed or fail as a team, we’re all one.”