By Cassidy Johnson
You hear the word “cheerleading” and you think of pompoms, big smiles, waving arms and pep. It’s instantaneous. But in your predispositions, do not discredit the immense amount of effort and drive that goes into the sport of cheerleading–the power and strength behind every move. Cheerleading is the most dangerous sport for young women, accounting for 66% of all catastrophic injuries for young female athletes. The cheerleading squad may not play on a field, but they still display a strong sense of teamwork and the very school spirit it is their job to foster. Teamwork, strength, integrity, drive, and a little bit of faith–that is every sport, and that is cheerleading.
Cheerleading at Apopka High School is active from May, with practices through the summer and all the way up the winter in February, the longest run of any sport here on campus. It lasts so long because both the football and basketball teams have cheerleading supporting them on the sidelines. I talked to one of the varsity team captains, senior Karis Buggs, about why she joined the cheerleading team. Having cheered for a total of nine years, she said, “I wanted to be a part of Apopka’s cheer team because football had already established such a great reputation, and I wanted to support such a hard-working team.” That is what cheer is about in its essence. Graduating this year, Karis said that after 4 years on the Apopka squad, what she has enjoyed the most is the strong friendships that she made over the years. This is a sentiment that can be translated to any team sport.
Tryouts for next year’s cheerleading team will take place May 14th-18th. An informational meeting date will be announced soon to give more information before tryouts. Cheerleading coach Mrs. Bercegeay told me that she is looking for “enthusiasm, dedication, discipline, inspiration, and encouragement” in the girls (or guys) that try out for next year’s team. This year Coach Bercegeay is on the special lookout for tumbling skills. She is also looking for “good stunting skills, [and good motions and facial] skills.” Cheerleading practices usually range from 2-3 days a week depending on the event the squad is preparing for. Those who make the teams will participate in a cheerleading camp at the University of Florida over the summer and have the option of also being a part of Apopka’s competition cheer team. Competition cheer consists of a cheer and a dance that will be performed at local and regional competitions, hoping to make it to states. In total there are actually 3 cheerleading squads at Apopka: the Freshmen team, the JV team, and the Varsity team. The cheerleading teams cheer for the corresponding football teams in the fall. Girls from any one of those 3 teams will cheer for basketball and can participate in competitive cheer. Those who cheer for basketball, however, do not cheer for competition.
If you’re interested in a high intensity, high energy sport, look no further than cheerleading.
So the next time you watch a morning pep rally (the next one is next month!) and see the pretty girl smiling in her cheer uniform, do not write her off based on a stereotype perpetuates by mainstream TV and movies. She is an athlete hand down. Note the power-and risk-in each of her moves. Choose to look deeper, choose to see the drive, strength, and proud muliebrity behind her smile. She may not be on the field or court, but she still shines.
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