While many people see the excitement of cheer displaying school spirit for every basketball and football game, there’s a whole other world of activities and preparations that take place when they aren’t on the field or court.

Every year, towards the end of April, any girl who wants to be a cheerleader tries out. During the tryouts, each girl learns a sideline routine and a cheer. On the day of the tryouts, the girls showcase what they have learned, including standing and running tumbling. They are also required to perform jumps, such as a triple jump combo or a toe touch.

After the tryouts, the girls continue to practice two to three times a week throughout the summer to prepare for upcoming parades and games. Their first major appearance as a new team for the school year is at the Herrin Fest Parade. 

In addition to this event, they also attend various functions, such as going to Progress Port to send off the Special Olympics state qualifiers with a pep rally. Furthermore, they make appearances at North Side Primary and Herrin Elementary to warmly welcome the students as they return for the new school year.

The girls’ cheer team has really grown as a whole, and their determination has grown stronger throughout the years, with the seniors guiding the lowerclassmen and motivating them to put in hard work. The girls feel they have worked harder than in any other year in the past, and they are seeing that hard work pay off. Currently, the girls are collecting money to get new competition uniforms as well as a choreographer.

Throughout their season, the team uses various methods to keep each other motivated during practices and competitions. Meadow Lerner (12) explains that despite experiencing pain in their backs, hips, and shoulders, they always remember to give it their all, and for the seniors, especially, as it is their last year, to give each competition their all. Additionally, the team encourages and cheers for each other to achieve their full potential.

Every year, during their competition season, the team sets a goal they always aim to achieve. One of their objectives is to surpass their previous score. Additionally, they strive to place in the top five at sectionals, which would allow them to qualify for the state competition.

Another main objective of the team is to defeat their main rival, Carterville High School. On January fourth, they succeeded by beating Carterville at the Greenville tournament. Then, on January eighteenth, the girls participated in a competition at Breese Central, where they showcased their dedication and ultimately placed fifth out of seventeen teams. This achievement is one of their biggest accomplishments to date. 

The cheer team has gone through so much growth by showcasing their skills either on the field or on the mats for competitions and achieving goals that they thought were impossible.