The cheerleading team prepares for Friday night football games four days a week so they look good on the sidelines, ready to perform.

This year the cheerleading team practices for two hours every Monday through Thursday learning new stunts, dances, sideline cheers, and formations. The 16-member varsity team is currently learning new stunts such as full ups, half downs, flips, air baskets, ball up, cradle, and double basket toes for their halftime performance.

Cheer coach Ms. Gabby Andrada and captains Harlee McBride (12), and Emilianna Sandoval (12), work together to come up with a dance routine for their halftime performance and to teach the squad the dance moves and formations. The team is committed and focused to learning the dance movements in two days getting the moves cleaned up ready to perform.

The captains take on a lot of responsibilities and assist the coaches to help the squad progress. McBride has been cheering since three years old and all four years of high school. McBride said, “I wanted to make a difference to the squad, especially since I have a good amount of cheer knowledge because I’ve been doing it for so long. So I just kind of hope that I could help the squad progress.”

The captains are managing their times wisely, having patience and facing challenges of the squads different progressive rates and opinions while finding the great times through the struggles.

Sandoval has been cheering for three years in high school. Sandoval said, “When I tried out, I just wanted to be a part of something that I’ve liked for so long. So I just thought I might as well keep doing it and have a bigger role.” 

During practice, the varsity team works on their sideline cheers for 15 minutes with the help of the captains teaching the moves and words, ready to answer any questions asked to help them succeed. The team locks down on the cheers, making sure to look strong and clean when it’s time to cheer on the sidelines at the football and basketball games.