Cheerleading
Cheerleaders Soar to New Heights
A summer of improvement for the squad make for a new and improved school year
After a summer of hard work, the cheerleaders were ready to take on the new year. From growing closer as a squad to increasing in their ability, they had developed a new spirit and team camaraderie.
Over the summer, they competed at a week long NCA (National Cheerleaders Association) camp in Arkansas and won the competition portion. Also, eight people were nominated for the All-American team. The squad planned to continue their success as they competed at numerous competitions throughout the year.
“[We hope] to come closer, like a family, and reach our goals of competing at NCA [National Cheer Association] nationals,” co-captain Madi Smalley (12) said.
The cheerleaders competed at WSA (Worldwide Spirit Association) during the school year, but not Missouri Regionals competition or state. They decided to participate in competitions that were intended for fun, and focused on improving their ability for nationals.
First-year coach Kristen Young saw a positive change in the Varsity squad through their dedication and commitment to success during the summer and school year. She was excited about the team’s growth and hoped they continue to improve throughout the rest of the year.
“The Varsity team has come together and grown as a group,” Young said. “I’m seeing lots of improvement and teamwork along with that.”
Morgan Fahrlander (11) has also noticed a change in the team’s spirit. When compared to last year’s team, this year was better in her opinion.
“We get along better, [and] we have a better sense of unity,” Fahrlander said.
With the amount of people involved in cheerleading- coaches, sponsors, and the cheerleaders themselves- there were many opportunities to get to know and bond with others. The coaches were Will Thomas (JV), Kirsten Verhofstadt (JV and Varsity) and Kristen Young (Varsity). There were 14 Varsity cheerleaders at the start of the year, and the four senior captains were Kiersten Meyer, Lauren Lohr, Madi Smalley, and Melanie Miller. As the school year progressed, so did the amount of cheerleaders.
“We’re very welcoming to people who want to join,” co-captain Melanie Miller (12) said.
Coach Kristen Young wished they continue to be a welcoming and spirited group, helping to get students involved in school activities and events.
“I want them to continue to grow as leaders of our school, [and] to work with the Flock to improve school spirit,” Young said. “They’re in a position of leadership and can make a big difference.”
The cheerleaders stayed busy during the year by working on conditioning and practicing throughout the week. They often made plans for games and assemblies, and put emphasis on gaining school spirit in students. Their dedication to cheerleading helped the school year be the best it could be.
Published in the
2016 Yearbook
Cheerleading is an annual yearbook story, so each year students purchase their yearbook expecting to read about it; in particular, cheerleaders expect to read a story that showcases their sport's best subjects. This year, I believe the cheerleading story was effective in doing that, because I tried to convey a theme of refreshed determination and hard work. I believe the story succeeded in doing so because information about camps, practicies, and competitions that the cheerleaders participated in during the summer break were included. These facts showed the dedication that the team exhibited to begin the new school year better than the previous year. I learned through writing this story that the cheerleaders do a lot of behind-the-scenes work throughout the year to strengthen their abilites. I am most proud of how the dedication of the squad is shown not just in their ability, but in growing the cheerleaders' camaraderie and even the school's spirit.
