In the dead of summer, as we all abandoned school to enjoy the break, the thud of stunts landing on mats could be heard, echoing through the empty gym. Who else could it be, but the cheerleaders, putting in their pre-season practices in preparation for the coming year. Any cheerleader will tell you that the season is long. A whole year long, in fact. They’ll also tell you that they are more than willing to put in the work. But coming off the back of a triumphant 2024-2025 season, where they won the State Championship and placed top 6 at Nationals, this cheer team dealt with more than long days and practices. They grappled with something even more daunting. Expectations.
Even before the season started, they engaged in team bonding activities to ensure that they could operate and collaborate to the best of their abilities. The whole team attended Masters Camp in the summer, where they learned elite skills, met new teams, and bonded with their teammates. This year, they earned an award for being the most spirited, a testament to their motivation and drive. When they returned from camp, however, is when the real work began.
“We pretty much practice through the entire school year, 2-3 times a week to perfect our routines,” said senior captain Carolina Lopez. “We also try to practice and stunt outside of practice time to get our stunts hitting solid for competition season.”
But they never lost sight of their impact as a team, constantly working together towards a common goal, no matter what was asked of them. During the month of November they came together to participate in LINK Thanksgiving with Columbus where they taught special needs students to cheer and shared a thanksgiving meal with them. This community collaboration is not only a symbol of their team spirit, but their dedication.
There’s pressure at every practice, an implicit intensity. It’s the kind of pressure that can only come with winning. Trying to replicate that, to win again, is a mental feat as much as it is a physical one. It takes more than hard work. The toughest battle is balancing all the pressure with football games and pep rallies for Columbus, while simultaneously drilling their three routines for competition later in the season.
“At any given time, we are preparing for football games and pep rallies while also getting our choreography down for each routine,” said senior cheerleader Alani Ortega. “Gameday, Traditional, and our Spirit Program.”
This year, they placed 1st at UCA Regionals for both Gameday and Traditional, 3rd at FHSAA Regionals, where only traditional competes, and 3rd at States, as well as 22nd overall at Nationals for traditional. Led by senior co-captains Sam Torrents and Caro Lopez, they strove for success with every stunt, but the captains know their real strength is something far more binding.
“Community is so important for the success of the team,” said Lopez. “Being captain has taught me how important it is to work together in order to achieve the joy and satisfaction of hitting a stunt or perfecting a routine. It’s the little things that count.”
To anyone in the bleachers at their Senior Night showcase, this team’s togetherness is not just apparent, but palpable. From the way they tearfully sent off their senior teammates to the genuine smile on each face as they perform their routines. Through all of their trials and accomplishments, this team proves that community is more than a support system, it’s a family.
