With the Patriots’ recent junior varsity football game Sept. 5 against Heritage Palm Beach, the away field buzzed with athlete action. Looking to the sidelines, the junior varsity cheerleaders could also be found working hard, firing up our team and the crowd. Their secret? Trust and teamwork.
Led by Coach Kammy, formally known as Coach Maron, along with Coach Pinzon, JV cheer holds their practices Mondays to Wednesdays on the east side of the 2500 building. Before the away game Sept. 5, their Wednesday practice had been devoted to working on lifts.
Cheerleaders in flyer, base and backstop positions each became heavily involved when practicing this challenging skill. After each unsuccessful attempt, the coach altered methods and high school volunteers provided additional suggestions and instructions. Although hard to master, continual persistence and repetition eventually lead to the practice’s first successful lift.
Upon descent, the team, including those not within the successful group, celebrated the accomplishment and encouraged one another to continue working at the skill. After several more trials and slight tribulations, each of the sectioned groups began to come closer to successfully completing the lift, a trickle effect that stemmed from one individual and the team’s collective mindset.
Within cheer, trust is a key element. “Everyone will always be there to catch someone,” freshman cheerleader Kaleigh McNicholas said. Individuals must be able to rely on one another while spotting flyers and working together, demonstrated first hand by the initial lift attempts. The team acted as spotters for the group who attempted the trick initially, making sure the flyer would fall safely.
“We’re all here for each other,” sophomore cheer captain Ella Marlowe said. “We don’t let each other fall, whether it be physically or metaphorically.” The cheer community brings individuals together, she remarked. It forms new and sometimes unanticipated connections with like-minded students which can lead to lasting friendships.
Within our school, the cheer community is tight-knit, forming a strong sense of friendship between its members. “We always look out for each other,” sophomore cheerleader Janiah Etienne said. “I never regretted joining cheer a day in my life, ever.”
Throughout the practice, Coach Maron gives advice on technique. During the initial attempts, the team supported the first flier to make sure she did not fall while getting used to the stunt. Flyer: Freshman Melanie Mendez. (Photo/Olivia Chung)
After the first successful stunt, the team celebrates the success, ready to attempt the lift again. From left to right: Ella Marlow, Chloe Vera, Halle Bank and Kaleigh McNicholas. (Photo/Olivia Chung)
Before the end of practice, the team completes their first lift lineup, with each of the flyers successfully reaching the final position. (Photo/Olivia Chung)
