Every year the cheer team supports Fossil Ridge High School sport teams during their games. The girls practice many times a week to present the best moves and encouragements. The tryouts will occur from April 11 to the 15 in the main gym of Fossil.
Cheerleaders are examples, models. According to their coach Nikki Rodriguez, they should be “Kind, respectful, hard working, encouraging, and confident” and of course they should lead their peers into the same direction.” Those students represent the school at games and in general. “They have to have a good sportsmanship, a strong integrity and should represent Fossil Ridge’s RIDGE philosophy,” stated Rodriguez.
They also have to follow many rules and can be fired of the team is one of them is not respected. A really important thing to consider is the importance of grades, a 2.5 GPA is required to only tryout and anyone can be put on the side if their grades are not high enough.
Rachel Schneider has been cheering for two years and she thinks that the rules appear a lot harder to follow because they are on paper. “It’s just about having good work and living ethics,” she stated.
Being a part of the cheer team is a privilege, but it’s also a commitment. The season lasts from May to February with six practices a week at some point. The future cheerleaders will also have to attend a summer camp and different practices over summer break to get ready for the school year. Bailey Coker, a senior at Fossil and captain of team, agrees with the fact that cheerleading is a huge commitment, “You don’t have a social life if you’re a cheerleader, cheering is your social life.”
Even if it takes a lot of time, practices allow cheerleaders to improve themselves and become stronger. Coker learned a lot from it and even though it’s hard, time consuming, practices are not always fun and it requires a lot of commitment she does not regret it. She said, “I learned so much from it, I grew as a person and became better.”
The cost is also a main aspect to consider. Being a cheerleader for a year costs more than $1200 which includes shoes, bows, undergarments, bags, two uniforms, summer camp, practice wear, competitions, poms and practices. Sophomore Rachel Schneider said, “It’s really expensive but you get everything you need for the season by paying this amount of money.” In another hand, Coker said, “The cost is ridiculous but you gotta do what you gotta do if you really love it.”
Cheerleaders have some opportunities to fundraise which helps a lot with the payment but the cost is a big thing to consider.
You can practice on your own to be ready for the tryouts, focus on working your crowd leading skills, like jumps and motion technique and you will be as ready as possible according to Rodriguez.
Participants will be judged on a cheer and dance, the ability to learn and adapt quickly, tumbling skills, different jumps,physical condition, scholastic achievement and eligibility and of course attitude, initiative, teamwork, leadership, work ethic, enthusiasm and coachability.
Schneider stated that she was stressed out and nervous when she first tried out, but that everything went well at the end. Her main advice is not to be afraid of it, “Everyone should go for it, it’s an amazing and fun program that will support you during your high school years.”
If you are interested in being a part of this team and you think you can handle becoming a cheerleader, sign up on website and do not forget to read all the information (http://www.frhscheer.com/cheer-tryouts-2016-2017/). Then, attend the tryouts from April 11 to April 14 from 5:30 to 8pm in the main gym. The final tryout will occur on April 15 at 4pm in the small and large gyms. The results will be up on Saturday, April 16, at noon.
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