Nov. 15, 2023
By Nikalena Iacono
Editor
Twenty-five cheerleaders full of school spirit attended every football game, both home and away, to cheer on the Golden Bears.
The team was led by senior captains Samantha Dobres, Danielle Paolazzi and Natalie Voza.
“As captains, we [led] the team and set a good example for the younger cheerleaders,” Voza said. “This season is definitely more challenging as captain because [I took] on many responsibilities.”
Voza said the team had to adapt to the loss of eight seniors.
“Many of our bases graduated last year, making it difficult to build stunt groups this year for our halftime routine,” Voza said.
Sophomore Kesiah Boyd said the cheerleaders are responsible for lifting each other up, both literally and figuratively.
“We lost a lot of strong seniors who could just throw people up. These new people coming up are a little smaller, so I feel we lost a lot of power, especially with[out] the two boys who used to be on the team,” Boyd said.
She said her goal for next season is to come back stronger after tearing all four ligaments in her knee during the winter competition cheerleading season in February.
“I was scared to ever play sports again, let alone cheer,” Boyd said. “I didn’t want to risk putting myself through the pain and hardship that I went through again.”
Due to her injury, Boyd could not perform in the halftime routine, though she participated in cheers. Boyd said by next season, she intends to be fully cleared to dance, jump and do stunts.
She said cheerleading is unique because of the extent to which the teammates rely on each other.
“If one person isn’t there, then the stunt cannot go up. I feel like it makes all of us a little bit closer because we can appreciate each other a little more,” Boyd said.
“We lost a lot of strong seniors who could just throw people up. These new people coming up are a little smaller, so I feel we lost a lot of power, especially with[out] the two boys who used to be on the team.”
Junior Ava Murgittroyd said the most challenging aspect of cheerleading is continuing to perform the halftime routine after making a mistake and having the stamina to get through the routine multiple times during practice.
Going into her senior year, Murgittroyd said she will be one of the leaders on the team.
“Seniors make the whole routine, find the music for our halftime show, make formations for sidelines and band cheers, keep the team’s behavior in check and enforce discipline,” Murgittroyd said.
She said the seniors taught her how to lead and create a routine, so she can go into the next season with confidence.
“I hope to create a positive environment for the girls while maintaining our skills and executing a great routine,” Murgittroyd said. “I hope our team has lots of chemistry and creates a close bond.”
