by Teresa Lopez.
It’s dark outside, the campus is quiet. Custodians wander, cleaning up the remnants from the day. Lights are still on in the gym as the cheerleaders make everything perfect for Friday morning.
Cheerleader harbors the responsibility to plan each and execute one pep rally for the season. Included in those responsibilities is deciding the decorations and getting the girl prepared.
“We all stay till 10:30 the night before the pep rally just to make sure everything’s perfect and in line so everyone enjoys it,” junior JV cheerleader Maddie Owens said. ‘“We make sure everyone’s in sync after school, and that their spirit is good.” Junior JV Cheerleader Maddie Owens said.
Every cheerleader gets to plan a pep rally. Senior varsity cheerleader Rayven Fields tried her best as this was her first pep rally of the year.
“If I could describe the first pep rally in one word it would be exhilarating,” Fields said. “The girls did amazing, and it was the first time we all came together as a team really.”
Although there’s one cheerleader planning the pep rally, the other cheerleaders get to experience it and get some inspiration.
“We prepare mentally by praying together right before our performance and games,” junior cheerleader Emarle Cortez said. “Cheer is a fun sport. I love how it gets me involved and I’ve been cheering since freshman year.”
The girls are strengthening their relationship as the year goes on by connecting and building their relationships through warmups and different activities.
“They’ve grown a lot together; they do their own dinners now and just have so much growth in their stunt group together,” coach Taylor Claxton said. “The first pep rally of the year was the best one yet. We received so many compliments on how we changed things up. If I could tell the girls if they were standing here in front of me that I love them and I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”
