The fall football season is over for the players, but certainly not for Trinity’s cheerleaders.
Twenty-nine girls are on the team, nine of whom are seniors: Lily Batson, Sarah Burt, Taylor Layhue, Tatum Gorby, Melina Vitale, Adri Lamm, Emma Frazier, Carrisa Coulter and Emma Ledger.
The team is guided by Senior Cheer Captains Burt, Frazier, and Batson and coaches Susan Priest, Elissa Sunseri and Nicole Vankirk. Most girls on the team have been cheering for over five years, so they have established cheer etiquette and skills, such as being organized. This helps when traveling 30 to 45 minutes away because everyone knows where their cheer essentials are, and nothing gets left behind.
In terms of school spirit, football games are where the cheerleaders’ pride is showcased for all to see.
The cheerleaders’ favorite moments from their season so far have been getting the crowd wound up at the football games every Friday. The chants get the crowds more involved by shouting cheers for them to repeat such as “When I say blue, you say white.”
Freshman Piper Tate says, “Thanks to football season, I have made so many new and great friends. Football season has also given me so many memories to look back on.”
Tate has been cheering since first grade and fell in love with being on the field and shouting her heart out; she will continue to cheer throughout high school.
The team spent the summer excitedly waiting to start training during the fall season. They practice twice weekly, for two hours, usually on Mondays and Wednesdays. The girls start their practices by stretching, tumbling and rehearsing their chants before crowding together and working on their halftime performance. The girls were very proud of how their season went and believe the basketball season will be just as fun for them.
Vitale says, “It’s way easier to reach full cheer potential when cheering during basketball season because it is indoor;” the girls do not have to stress about the weather affecting their performance and it’s easier for the crowd to hear them roar.
As the season progresses, the girls have several goals. One of these goals is for the girls to be more active with the crowd throughout the basketball season since exciting the audience more helps the basketball team perform better.
Good luck to the Trinity cheer squad and much appreciation for all of the support the squad provides for the sports program.
