Spring cheer starts up

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The school year may be wrapping up, but school cheerleading definitely isn’t. Spring cheer practices began at the beginning of May, and the squads spent the whole month preparing for the Spring Football Game and Showcase which debuted May 24 in Lauderhill, Fla.

 The cheerleaders spent hours after school practicing, perfecting their routines. “Although it’s a large time commitment, it’s really fun cheering on the field. We are working on stunts and we are looking forward to throwing them on game day,” junior varsity cheerleader Lilia El Oufir said.   

Varsity cheerleader Kylie McCarthy has held a spot on Heritage’s varsity squad since she was in eighth grade. McCarthy is currently participating in the spring season in order to prepare for camp over the summer and the main cheer season in the fall. “We do a UCA cheer camp every year where Auca cheer pros teach us new dances and stunts so we can get ready for fall season. We want to be ready for both the camp and fall season,” McCarthy said. “Specifically during the spring season, we are working on our performance and stunting for the black and gold game.”

After the spring showcase, the cheerleaders turn their focus toward the fall season, where they will keep up the pep.

The spring cheer squad poses for a quick photo before taking the field. (Photo/Jen Arias)
Freshmen Kylie McCarthy (left) and Payton Marrero (right) are best friends who have cheered together since they were in junior high. Both girls participated in the Spring Football Game and Showcase. “My favorite part was getting a glimpse of the excitement of Friday night lights and what’s to come for next football season. Cheering on the players and getting the crowd excited is what I love about being a Heritage cheerleader,” Marrero said. (Photo/Jen Arias)

Zoe Horwitz, a junior at American Heritage, returns to the Patriot Post for her third year as the Sports Editor and Assistant Editor-In-Chief. Besides reading and writing, she spends her time playing with her dog or tutoring younger students through Learn with Peers, a non-profit organization she helped found in 2020. During her freshman year, she co-founded FALIA (Food Allergy/Intolerance Awareness) at school, a club that advocates for those with food allergies. Zoe also plays lacrosse, as she plays for a club team and American Heritage girls varsity lacrosse team. Zoe is very excited to be contributing to the Patriot Post.