When people think of cheerleading, they usually picture smiling faces, chants, and pom-poms flying through the air. But, what many don’t see is the hard work, time, and dedication that goes on behind the scenes. Cheerleading is a sport built on energy, strength, and teamwork—whether it’s during Friday night football games or intense basketball matchups. This year, our cheer team has been working hard, and it shows.
Football cheer is full of excitement. Whether it’s lively pep rallies or cold playoff nights, the squad is there supporting the team and hyping up the crowd. While it may look effortless from the bleachers, there’s a lot that goes into every routine. Some of the student section’s favorite cheers include “Titan Beat” and “Do It,” which always get the crowd fired up. Some of the cheerleaders’ favorite cheers are “6 More,” and “G-G-O.”
Practices begin before the school year starts. They start by learning and teaching cheers before they get into stunting. Kyra Yordy, a junior on the squad, said, “The games are a lot of fun, bus rides are fun with the people. The coach is really good, and she’s doing basketball cheer too, so it should be a great year.”
Coach Karen Mool brings a ton of experience to the team. “This is my 36th year of teaching,” she said. “I taught for 10 years in the Chicago area and the remaining years here. I was a cheerleader for 10 years in junior high, high school, and college—I cheered for the El Paso Rockets in junior high, the El Paso Comets in high school, and then the Elmhurst College Bluejays.”
While football cheer gets a lot of attention, basketball cheer has its own energy—and this year, it’s even more exciting with Coach Mool leading for the first time. “This will be new for me, and I am so excited to do this. I was a basketball cheerleader for many years, so it will be fun to get back into it.”
Basketball games bring a totally different atmosphere. The gym is loud, the crowd is close, and the energy is more intense. Kyra said, “Away games are fun because we get to experience different things, but home games are definitely fun too because the student section is louder and has a better advantage.”
Stunting is one of the most impressive parts of cheerleading—and also one of the most technical. This year’s squad is especially talented in this area. “Stunting has been our strongest skill,” said Kyra. “I was a flyer freshman year, but I prefer basing now.”
Cheer can be dangerous if not everyone is fully focused. Coach Mool also shared that safety is a big priority. “Thankfully, we have not had any major injuries. We did have a stunt fall during a playoff game, but everyone did their job and no one was severely hurt. The flyer was cradling down, and the backspot caught her near her wrists. Thankfully, the backspot knew to also stick her own body under the flyer to prevent her from hitting her head.”
When asked about the squad’s strengths, Coach Mool said, “This year’s squad is very talented, and they are super quick learners. This really allows us to go further and try new things.” Right now, the team is working on braced flips and hopes to attempt stunts that include basket tosses later in the season.
One of the biggest challenges for the team this year has been time. “Almost all of the cheerleaders are involved in other school activities, so working around all of that can be tough,” Coach Mool explained. But despite busy schedules and long practices, the team continues to push forward.
Still, the team has grown, and there’s a real sense of leadership and support. “I’m definitely going to miss the seniors,” Kyra said. “Their management skills, how they take charge, and their sense of humor… Since I’m a junior and closer to them, it’s going to be harder to watch them go when they graduate.” This year’s senior cheerleaders include Piper Zimmerman, Lexie Kiefer, Kiersten Wheatley, and Rose Otto.
Coach Mool summed up what makes coaching cheer so meaningful: “I enjoy coaching cheer because I love to see young people learn to work as a team and become confident individuals. There’s nothing better than working with genuinely good people who want to improve themselves, and I love that I get to play a small role in that.”
Whether it’s cheering on the field, in the gym, or supporting each other behind the scenes, our cheerleaders are more than just sideline spirit. They’re hardworking, passionate athletes who bring pride to our school—and they deserve a round of applause for everything they do!