The sound of sneakers squeaking on the gym floors and loud cheering could only mean one thing–cheer tryouts are here! That’s right, take the chance to try out for next year’s cheer team starting May 5th till May 7th! For more info visit via instagram at @libertypatriotscheer. For many students, cheer tryouts bring a blend of excitement, anxiety, and a lot of hard work. Whether you’re a veteran cheerleader or stepping up to tryouts for the first time, the experience can be both thrilling and nerve-wracking.
Leyna Serna has been cheering for 5 years and is positioned as a base and tumbler. “I love tumbling and basing because you can constantly learn new skills which makes cheerleading fun.” Leyna believes that being a cheerleader means being a hard working person, a leader and being a team player. She has created new bonds and memories with her teammates throughout the years which has shaped her into being the person she is today–being a responsible person and a leader to others. She also says that cheer has taught her not to take things for granted and to always work hard.
Shantelle Macugay has given some advice for those wanting to try out. “Just have fun and don’t be scared. Try your best during each section of the tryouts. Never worry about others having higher skills than you because you could be stronger than them in different aspects coaches may like.” Olivia Kyees, who has been cheering for about 6 years says that cheerleading started as something fun to try then fell in love with it quickly! Olivia’s biggest motive in cheer is growth. Hitting a new stunt, learning a tougher routine, or helping her team succeed helps her to become better and push past her limits.
Although, cheerleading does come with having to balance school and other outside activities. Celena Grace is a freshman here at Liberty that is still continuously improving on balancing cheer with her school life. During school hours she always tries her best to complete her assignments in class and focus on cheer during the nights and weekends. Celena states that cheerleading has shaped her into the person she is today by teaching her dedication, gave her confidence, and had made her lifelong friendships. Given the experiences these cheerleaders had shared, if you are wanting to participate in next year’s team, give it a go!
