OCR Text |
Show PGHS Cheer Are Dedicated Athletes ' ' ' . ' i i ' : : '.- w- ; ! . I- ' , x.-V: j.VV ' - V 1 I r J. v v . m m - ' - - i'v ' if ,i ...iV. '' r.,i i ,1 i, .... i.i i ii... i by Liz Maxfield To be a PGHS cheerleader is not for the faint of heart! We see them tumbling across the floor, throwing each other through the air in the ultimate "faith falls", performing complicated and challenging choreography, and making it all look like a piece of cake. They put together new routines for every half time they perform at and they perfect a long routine for their own competition season. They are great at what they do and we love them! But do we know what it takes to be a cheerleader? This is a sport that spans 1 1 months of the year. May through October is spent in serious conditioning to develop the strength and endurance needed to prevent injury and to perform those amazing stunts! Any one of them could keep up to the best athletes in the high school! After an hour and a half of practice learning cheers, stunting (lifting and throwing HO pound girls repeatedly), creating routines, and doing kicks and jumps with weights, the next hour and a half is all about conditioning: 20 minute planks, 15 minute wall sits, and a 3 mile run with interval sprints. The next day's after practice conditioning might be a bit easier and only require an 8 mile run followed by 10 minutes of abs. Anyone who knows the definitions of these exercises will know it's a serious workout! November through March brings a shift in focus as the team prepares for their own competition season. Those tournaments are something to see! Just ask Assistant Principal Jeanie Wilson, one of the few people not related to a cheerleader who goes to support them. (Thanks, Jeanie!) Through the entire year they travel to support the whole school at all kinds of events. They are at assemblies, back to school nights, and have participated in service activities. There have been times in the late Fall that they have cheered for girls basketball, boys JV and varsity basketball, a wrestling match, and a cheer competition all in the same week in ADDITION to the daily three hour morning practices, classes, and homework. Of course, when a schedule like this comes along, they have to split up and rotate games. Even so, the demand on their time is very real. There are events they just can't get to because they still have their grades to maintain since every cheerleader is Back Row, left to right: Monique Maxfield, Haley Peart, Cameron Dixon, Macayla Madsen, Kelsey Monloya, Lizzie Rosenberg, Jessica Bullpitt, Hailey Viertel, McCall Christensen, Gentri Lloyd, Paige Olson, Reagan Sparks. Middle row: Baylee Gamble, Sylvie Dockins, Lexie Booth, Saibreya Smith, Cydnie Clyde, Btynn Ten-is. Aveiy Sheriff, Beth Farley. Front Row: Nikki Giles, Sam Holman, Taylor Wissel, Loni Lewis, Morgan Gunter, Brianne Moon. Not Pictured: Ashtynne Wade. Photo courtesy of Joe Lazerson required to have a minimum 3.0 GPA, no D or F grades and no NCs. Unlike most sports, cheerleaders have more than their fair share of injuries. It is not uncommon that, due to injuries, a routine has to be completely reworked the day before a halftime performance or a competition (including their region competition this year). And even when such catastrophic upheaval happens, they still perform brilliantly (like taking 1st in region!). Only a group of truly dedicated and talented athletes could do this time and again and still get highest marks in their competitions. From athletics to assemblies, as ambassadors of the school, no one spends more time and effort representing and uplifting the Vikings than the cheerleaders. It means a lot to them when they see a poster in the hallways of the high school celebrating their own success or their lockers decorated before a cheer competition. Thanks Spirit Team! The cheerleaders are on their way to their own national competition at the end of March. The pressure there is more intense than anything they have done during the year. But they've proven that they have what it takes to beat last year's 3rd place finish and they are , aiming for 1 st. |