From a football game to a basketball game you can always depend on the cheerleaders to be there and bring there pep and spirit to games.
Senior Captains Erris McClain (‘24) and Brooke Schottel (‘24) had gymnastics backgrounds before they considered cheerleading. They have great advice for any girls who are considering joining the cheer team in the next season.
“I did gymnastics and wanted to switch to school cheer because all my friends were doing it,” McClain said. “Don’t take it to seriously and have fun”
McClain is currently committed to Missouri Baptists Universities stunt team and Schottel is currently trying out to make the National Cheer Association (NCA) staff and going to Missouri State University for cheer.
“(Gymnastics) just came naturally and I chose to do cheer because it was somewhat related to it,” Schottel said. “Try it, do your best. If you come to tryouts try not to let people get in your head.”
Junior Captains NyIma Burchfield (‘25) and Olivia Merrell (‘25) have shared their first year of being captains together and they bonded by sharing their personal goals for this cheer season.
“I just hope to go to nationals and score high and to have a positive and productive season, but to overall have fun,” Burchfield said in December. “ When you try out, come in with confidence and have a positive attitude.”
Merrell also prioritizes having fun and motivating one another.
“(I want) everyone to remain having positive and productive attitudes,” Merrell said.
Kiera Hudgens (‘24) recommends that anyone who joins cheer should embrace the community that it brings and encourage each other to bring their best effort.
“(New members should) be friends with everybody and to always have a positive attitude throughout the season,” Hudgens said. “All my friends and I wanted to be a part of something.”
