Each flip, each shout and each movement has a purpose: to show school spirit. What people may not realize is the amount of hours they put into the sport and the close-knit bond they’ve created with one another. They are more than just cheerleaders on the sidelines of football games, they are family.

What goes on behind the scenes? The countless hours of training and conditioning. Cheer coaches Nicole Aragon and Ryan Bartley work together to create a safe environment where they will strive.

“We’re a big family with our ‘mother Moore’ [Aragon],” senior flyer Ella Brown said. “We love her so much. We’re just really close, we love trying new things, especially for pep rallies. I would say that we’re really just a big family, and we work hard, we practice a lot and we smile a lot.”

For each pep rally, the squad comes together to create a stunt show the student body will enjoy. Typically thought out by the seniors and coaches, they brainstorm ideas to excite the students and challenge themselves. Even staying late the night before pep rallies to perfect the routine.

“We want to be good, so we want to practice,” Brown said. “We want to try fun stunts, and we want people to like them too. It’s hard when we do really fun stunts that are hard but people don’t realize how hard they are.”

Together, the cheer squad creates bonds that will benefit them in the long term, allowing some students to step out of their comfort zone and grow as a person. Spending time together outside of school to do things such as shopping or having a fun get-together.

“The bond is very strong and family-oriented, where we know everything about each other,” Aragon said. “We get on each other’s nerves because we’re together so often. But also because we know each other so well, we can support each other in the best ways.”

Cheer creates a friendship, a connection that lasts beyond high school. Whether it is a boy or a girl on the squad, having years of experience or none at all, it creates an environment where they can thrive and have fun.

“Being the only guy on the cheer team can be a little intimidating,” junior Kelton Klumb said. “Everyone’s usually always looking at me so it’s a little scary. But honestly, I just try to be myself and then it’s pretty easy and fun.”

Each hour the cheer squad spends together creates an impact on not only the school but each member part of it. 

“I would describe cheer as complete and total chaos, but it’s the best kind of chaos,” Aragon said. “It’s energetic and it’s wild. We’re constantly figuring things out, we’re constantly changing things, we have to modify and adjust and go with the flow. But it’s also the chaos that turns into success and that’s in a lot of different forms. It’s a beautiful chaos, but it is a constant chaos.”

If you are interested in joining the cheer squad, reach out to Coach Aragon. Put yourself out there.