Alliance High School Cheerleaders are going to state again this year! Even though people think cheer is not a sport, goes to state too. Even though cheerleaders go to state, preparing for state is a little different than other sports. Cheerleaders start right after homecoming week.
The cheerleaders make their own material for when they do perform. Some of the things that they have to do before going to state are finding music that everyone agrees on, and making routines that will work for the team. The coaches find words to go with the dance, what stunts they will be doing for the dance, practice the school song dance, and get all of the materials that they will need for their performance.
Another thing that they will have to do is tryouts for the state team, which can be very hard for the coaches. As a cheerleader, a person has to be mentally prepared to be in the state and have good grades. They will have to be willing to give up most of their night to practice.
The coaches, Danielle Swanson and Tara Quick give the girls the option of wanting to try out for the state team. If a girl doesn’t want to be on the state team they will not hold anything against that person. They understand if they want to keep up with their grades or just not do it.
When it comes to tryouts it can be very nerve-racking for all of the cheerleaders. The feeling of not making it can stress the girls out so much that they black out during it. They only give the girls a few weeks to memorize it then it’s showtime!
Absences are very important for the cheerleading community, especially if they are on the state team because when someone misses a day they miss a practice, which leads to them being behind in the state routine. If a girl misses more than 3 days, there are chances that they could be cut from the team.
I interviewed Tara Quick,‘’ When it comes to preparing for state cheerleading, it’s important to focus on both physical and mental preparation. Physical preparation involves practicing your routines, improving your strength and flexibility, and working on your jumps and stunts. Mental preparation involves staying positive, visualizing success, and staying focused during performances. Remember to also take care of yourself by getting enough rest, eating well, and staying hydrated. We the coaches are very excited for the state.’’ I think the whole school is very excited to see the girls perform this year. The SPUD itself is also very excited to see what place they get and to write about it more. We wish the girls lots of luck.