After months of hard work and dedication, the girls’ cheer squad has brought an end to their season. The girls cheered a successful football season as the Hillers were section champions, followed by a tough basketball season with a record of 4-18. Not only do they support the football and basketball teams, but they also show up to support the boys’ wrestling, girls’ basketball and bocce teams.
The team makes sure to create a positive and exciting environment, keeping the energy high at each practice and game. This encourages girls to try out for the team and showcase their skills.
Sophomore Mia Magnotta stated, “I wanted to join the cheer team because it seemed fun, and some of my friends were cheerleaders. I also wanted to join because I’ve been dancing for years, and I knew I could handle cheer. I only started cheering in 8th grade, making this year my third year. My strong suit in routines is definitely dancing and jumps.”
Without the cheerleaders, Friday Night Lights wouldn’t be the same. Not only do they play an important role in supporting the football team, but they also lead the student section with cheers, as they love to get everyone riled up. Most of the team prefers football games over the other sports they cheer for, as they get to participate in all the fun themes along with traveling to the away games.
Magnotta stated, “I like cheering for football games more than for basketball games because football games are more exciting, and we get to stand and cheer from the sidelines instead of sitting and cheering on the bleachers at basketball games.”
Cheering for the basketball team is a completely different atmosphere, as the girls only get the chance to perform during timeouts and cheer from the bleachers.
The senior captains are Morgan Layhue, Chloe Bricker and Cicely Sunseri, and they take pride in leading their peers to success every game and practice. Some of their responsibilities as captains are to keep everyone in line and focused, along with leading each cheer and making sure everything is perfect.
Sunseri stated, “My biggest challenge as captain is making sure that everyone is on the same page at all times.”
The Trinity girls’ cheer team also performs at pep rallies every season, showcasing their new routines and creative stunts, as they fill the crowd with energy. The team enjoys being able to perform in front of the school and hype up the stands.
Magnotta stated, “My favorite pep rally routine was the 9th grade Thunderstruck dance because the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders performed it originally, which made it more exciting that we were going to be performing something they did. It was also more of a dance than a cheer, which I thought was fun.”
The girls put in hours of hard work each season as they start practices in early May. Over the summer, the team attended an NCA camp. The girls also hosted a week-long camp for the youth Trinity cheer girls. During this camp, the varsity girls got to take control and lead the younger group to success, while learning new routines and dressing up for fun themes.
Sunseri stated, “My favorite memory from cheer camp is working with the little kids and doing the fun themes. It’s also a great bonding experience.”
The varsity team is graduating ten seniors this year: Addison Mercurio, Lexi Daniels, Emma Detrick, Amelia Grayson, Gianna Stiehler, Audy Mckean and Eva Crim, as well as their three captains, leaving big shoes to be filled and opportunities to be taken next season. The girls will be cheering for the upcoming Trinity girls’ basketball playoffs before their 2025-2026 season concludes. Good luck to the Trinity girls’ cheer team, and congratulations on wrapping up a great season!
