Timber Creek Cheerleading
By Tiffany White
As most people know, the competitive, loud, difficult, and entertaining sport of cheerleading has been around for a very long time. To be a successful athlete in cheerleading, it takes a fair amount of teamwork, dedication, and hard work. Timber Creek has been well-known for having an amazing cheer team over the years. Between the abundance of state championships and making it to nationals almost every year, their competitive team thrives. However, on a Friday night, alongside many sweaty and stinky football players, is where they are most successful.
The idea of cheerleading originally formed from the football players needing to receive support and encouragement from the crowd. The controversy of cheerleading being called a sport lasted roughly 19 years until it became official in 1999. So over time fight songs, cheers, and spirting was formed to provoke the crowd and get them pumped. Timber Creek’s sideline cheer team has strived to do just that. Nothing is like a good high school football game. Their fight song has been popular since the early 2000’s. The dance/ song has every student singing and performing it in the stands as it goes on. The energy, sharp motions, and excitement is really what brings love to the sport.
There are many positions and aspects of cheerleading. The most basic is cheering; cheering for a crowd, the players, or doing cheers in general. Cheers are meant to engage the crowd with the game and go with whatever plays the football team is making. The loud “offense” and “defense” cheers help keep the stands alive during the game. Other aspects of cheer are stunting and tumbling. This is a more visible entertainment that shocks and wows the crowd. The neat flips, jumps, twisting and turning in the air really gives you something to remember! Tumbling is the same way. This skill takes many cheerleaders months to even years to acquire. However, once you have the skill, it is hard to lose it. All of these tricks and skills keep positive and uplifting energy on the ground for the players.
Timber Creek also has a great basketball team which follows with a big cheer team. Within the same sideline season, some girls will follow to be on the sideline cheer team for basketball. The season is relatively different, but shares the same purpose. The girls will sit and yell cheers from the bleachers instead of being on the ground standing up the whole time. These games are faster and more intense because everyone is keeping their eye on the players every move. It is essential for the cheerleaders to keep their energy up and voices loud in these games because it tends to not be as loud. During timeouts in the game or halftime, quick tumbling skills are thrown or one to two stunts will go up. ‘I am so grateful for this team and their work ethic. I’m excited to see them progress in the program,” said coach Tabitha Clear.
Go Wolves! Freshman cheerleaders cheer at a home game at Timber Creek High School. “I love the sport and the challenges it brings. I couldn’t be happier to be the captain,” said Alexia Bosch. Photo by Tiffany White