The Eagle High cheerleaders spend more than eleven hours a week perfecting their skills, cheers and performances. Head Coach Sarah Andrews helps and motivates the athletes to build a passion for success. Andrews has been cheering for most of her life. Her cheering experience in the Universal Cheer Association should be a huge help to the cheerleaders of Eagle High. Her time and dedication towards cheerleading shows an “all or nothing” mindset.
“We spend a lot of time at practice, whether it’s practicing for games or competitions, or just like at home, practicing cheers, practicing jumps, stretching, pretty much everything I do has something to do with cheer,” said cheerleader and sophomore Capri Weaver. “In my opinion, it’s a lot more than just cheering on the football and basketball players. It’s a competition, and I feel like that’s very overlooked.” She explained that many people don’t realize that cheerleading is not just cheering on other sports on the sidelines, but instead, cheer is its own sport that competes multiple times per season.
Eagle High cheer competitions start in December and end towards February. This depends on whether the team makes it to Nationals in California. The team has a total of five to six competitions per year. During the nine-month season, the athletes dedicate their time to perfecting their routines, strengths and abilities. During this time, the team is more stressed than ever. But even through the ups and downs, they always have each other’s backs by creating the most inseparable bond with one another.
“We always make such good relationships with all of the girls and coaches, and I have a different relationship with everybody, and I love each and every one of them,” Weaver said. The junior varsity coaches, Lyndzee Johnson and Hailey Awe, strive to make sure each athlete can achieve their goals as an athlete and a person.
The cheerleaders of Eagle High don’t only support each athlete in their school, but they support each other as well. They’re a fundamental aspect of the school, and they set a leadership example. That’s how their hard work, and talent, work hand in hand.
