This school year, Caitlin Valdez (11) has joined the school’s cheer team. Caitlin has been cheering since she was little and went on to win titles at Summit and National Cheerleading Association (NCA). It is important that she has joined the squad because she is proving to be an asset to the team with her skill set and talent.

Caitlin joined the cheer team to give her the high school experience and to keep her busy since she stopped doing competition cheer. 

She originally cheered for the California Allstars. Caitlin’s experience being in the school’s cheer team compared to her old cheer team has been a big change and it has been a big adjustment going from competition to sideline cheering. She also has gotten more involved with the school and has made new friends and became more social by being on the team.

Caitlin stated, “Since being on the team, I have made new friends and memories.” 

Her goals for the team is to start tumbling more during halftime and on the sidelines. She hopes to accomplish perfecting her tumbling skills by working hard and practicing.

Caitlin is also a cheer coach outside of her school’s team and coaches for the Wildcats where she is a leader and role model to the youth cheerleaders. Caitlin stated, “I want to give these girls the same experience I had while being on the team, and overall, I just want them to enjoy it and have fun.”

The cheerleaders practice everyday besides game days and Caitlin goes to both school practices everyday. They work on stunts and practice cheers and also work on their halftime dance.

Caitlin also coaches Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for two hours coaching the Wildcats and then spends her Saturdays coaching. She coaches for varsity 7th to 8th graders. She grew up cheering for Wildcats, so this squad is special for her to be coaching them now.