As eighth grader Ava Duquette hears her coach say, “just one more time,” she prepares to run through the team’s game day routine alongside the competition cheer team. Because of the sport’s recent switch to a competition and sideline team, Duquette can now participate in both teams.
“I feel like competition is more serious, [it] has more practices and the [coaches are] harder,” Duquette said. “In sideline, it’s something fun to do in your free time, but still hard work.”
In previous years, the cheer team has had junior varsity and varsity teams, with members from either team having the option to try out for the competition team. This year, the teams are divided into a sideline and competition team.
“I think this shift is a good thing,” competition coach Kaitlyn Hoskins said. “It allows for everyone who loves the sport of cheer to have a place at the level of commitment and involvement they would like.”
The competition cheer team, coached by Hoskins and Assistant Coach Sarah Hardy, focuses on performing in a match-like format against other teams. The sideline team coached by Stephanie Griffin and assistant coach Kimberly Smith, supports the school’s other sports teams, performing at basketball games as a way to motivate athletes.
“When sideline and competitive teams were one entity it was often difficult to balance supporting other sports programs and participating in our own sport,” Hoskins said. “Now both entities of cheerleading can get the attention they need and deserve.”
The competition team follows a stricter schedule than the sideline team, with practice three days a week, and competitions almost every Saturday from November through January.
“To be on the team, you have to let it be your number one priority,” junior Reese Ransom said. “We all sacrifice a lot of things in our life to [participate], such as school work and hanging out with family and friends.”
Ransom said this adjustment opens up schedules for members of the competition team who previously had to both compete and cheer at sports games, giving students like herself the opportunity to solely focus on the competitive aspect of cheering.
“Cheer takes up most of my time,” Ransom said. “[So this] shift is definitely easier for me [since] I don’t have to cheer at games during the week while also practicing for competitions on the weekend.”
Alongside the change to having a competition and sideline team, the sideline team has a new assistant coach in Smith.
“I think Coach Smith has made the team a lot better,” eighth grader Mikaela Reynolds said. “She knows a lot about how to help us learn.”
Smith said her love for cheer started when she began helping her husband, who was a UCF cheerleader, when he coached at camps for other schools.
“I love being around kids and I wanted to help them grow in any athletic aspects,” Smith said. “I teach and coach because of relationships. I love making connections and I’m trying to help [give the cheerleaders] experiences that will help them become better athletes in terms of technique, strength, and confidence so that they’re better prepared for [higher level cheer].”
Some members of the sideline team, such as Reynolds and seventh grader Aisling McBee, said that Smith brings positivity and passion to the sport, creating an optimistic atmosphere that makes the sport more enjoyable.
“She always wants to make sure that we do good, and that we do things right,” McBee said.
As the team progresses through the season, cheering at basketball games and pep rallies, Smith said she looks forward to watching the team grow.
“They can do their job and be loud and get the momentum going and positivity in the environment,” Smith said.
Both Smith and Hoskins said they believe that the sideline team instills a love for the sport, and inspires cheerleaders to continue.
“Most of the people on sideline are middle schoolers, and I know most of [their] goals are to be on the competition cheer team next year,” Smith said. “So we’re just trying to get them ready for that level and keep it flowing. Working on their jumps, their flexibility and their strength to prepare them.”
