West Valley, Anderson cheerleaders exhibit energy and athleticism

Photo by Breeana Laughlin

West Valley: The West Valley cheerleaders are a stunt squad. They recently qualified to compete in a national cheer leading competition at Anaheim in March.

Photo by Breeana Laughlin

Anderson: The cheerleaders at Anderson Union High School focus on school spirit and getting the crowd pumped up during the football games.

Every week at Anderson and West Valley, dozens of cheerleaders practice stunts, learn routines and get their schools pumped up for the big game on Friday.

Anderson

Anderson High School has a group of 28 cheerleaders who perform the half time show at the Cubs varsity football game every week.

The girls need to have both a high level of athleticism, as well as energy to get the crowd going.

Coach Jill McWilliams says people tend to overlook the athleticism involved in cheerleading.

"There is always that stigma that cheerleaders aren't athletes," McWilliams said.

"My girls are sweating and literally have had bloody noses because a stunt didn't come out right. It can be pretty grueling. We've had broken bones and all sorts of things," she said.

In addition to performing stunts and routines, McWilliams said her cheerleaders focus on building school spirit.

"Our focus is about promoting the school environment and getting kids involved," the coach said.

The Cubs cheerleaders promote school spirit on campus supporting football players and inviting all students in to get involved and come out to the games.

"We try to make our group experience here at the school into a kind of community, so that we are getting kids out and getting involved in things, even if they aren't an athlete or a cheerleader," McWilliams said.

On the field, the cheerleaders help welcome the Cubs back into the game after halftime by getting the crowd to make a tunnel for the players to run through.

"My girls invite 10 people out of the stands every single game. So our tunnel now is the entire length of the football field, and it's starting to wrap around our end zone area," McWilliams said.

The energy the Anderson cheerleaders exudes get fans young and old, into the game.

"I believe that excitement is contagious when you are seeing people have fun. I try to have our girls understand that they are performers," McWilliams said.

Over the years, the Cubs cheerleading program has really grown, McWilliams said, and the community is responding.

"I'll notice less and less people when the buzzer goes off getting out of the stands because they want to watch. It's exciting for the girls to see that. I think the girls bring a lot of excitement and energy to the game," she said.

"That's exciting when they feel the gratitude of our community."

West Valley

The West Valley Eagle cheerleaders are a stunt squad.

The group of 21 girls not only perform half time shows together, they also compete against other squads.

Last week, the cheerleaders competed in the northern regional cheerleading competition at the Great America theme park near San Jose.

"They do a series of dancing, stunting tumbling and cheer. It's a jam-packed two and a half minute routine," said West Valley cheer coach Mindy Odell.

West Valley cheerleaders were judged on how well they performed, the level of stunting, gymnastic tumbling ability and showmanship.

The team did so well that they got a bid to go to a national cheerleading competition on March 27 through 29 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

In addition to their strong performances, West Valley cheerleaders energize the crowds and show support for their teams.

"When the teams down and the crowds down, it's our job to get them up. That energy that the crowd generates can really dictate how a game goes," she said.

"The cheerleaders are out there cheering the entire game. You will see the crowd get up and leaving whether we are way ahead, or if it's a bad game and we're way behind, but the cheerleaders will still be there," Odell said.

Dedication is a must to be a cheerleader, the coaches said. And with so many girls on the squad, each girl must a team player, said cheer advisor Toni Hillard.

"There's no 'I' in team. You have to work together, and I think that can be harder in bigger squads," Hillyard said. "There's a lot of different personalities and you are trying to mesh them all together as one. But it works because we great staff and administration, and we all work together."

Odell and Hillyard also try to get the cheerleaders involved in community events whenever possible. The cheerleaders are going to do story time at Anderson library on Oct. 23.