Tiffany D.'s Story

I have a confession to make. You know those girls who diss cheerleading and say that it isn't a sport? Well, I was that girl. When I was younger I had been on a junior squad. It was not a pleasant experience because the girls were mean and snobbish. I swore then and there that I would never do cheering again.

In seventh grade I started going to a super small private school. The only sports they offered for girls were volleyball and cheerleading for soccer. I wasn't able to try out for either until ninth grade. When I entered ninth grade I tried out for volleyball and didn't make it. By then it was too late to do the soccer cheerleading too, but I was determined to do a sport anyway, no matter what it was.

My friend and I heard that there used to be a basketball cheering squad way back in the day. We decided that if we couldn't do volleyball we might as well be all out geeks and do cheering. We sought out a teacher who had been on the basketball squad when they had it and asked her if she could consider coaching. She agreed and soon there was a sign up sheet hanging on the wall in the hallway. My friend and I were the first to sign up and a few of the soccer cheerleaders signed up too.

Man! What cheerleaders have to go through! We hadn't even formed a real squad yet and we were made fun of like there was no tomorrow. Amazingly it was mostly from the very guys we were supposed to be cheering for, the basketball team. The first practice there were nine girls, and all in the ninth grade. We were determined to make it work and make it ten times better than the stuffy soccer cheerleaders. We found old cheering books with mounts and looked on the internet for new cheers. We slowly became better and actually impressed the crowd and the team. By the end of the season the team appreciated us and basketball cheering is now the "cool" thing to do. Just remember that sometimes you have to step out and do the "un-cool" thing before people notice you- no one knows that better than a cheerleader!



Ashley S.'s Story

I am a senior at Wewahitchka High School in Wewa, Florida, and let me tell you, our school consists of around 200 students. It's quite a little town. This turns out to be my first and last year cheering. Weird? Yeh, a little. I have always been known as the "anti-cheer" type, but when one of my softball teammates (who happened to be the upcoming years' captain) convinced me to try out for this year's squad I laughed. It took a little convincing, but I tried out anyway. It turned out I was the only one on the squad who could tumble, and that impressed the judges. I couldn't believe it, but I made the squad.

Now we practice for our competition squad who will go to Jacksonville, Florida on December 6th to participate in my first cheerleading competition. I am actually VERY excited.

Just a little bit about our squad. We started out with seventeen people - 13 girls and 4 guys. We had four main stunt groups, one of which I was the base. To make a VERY LONG story short, we have had to re-do our routine about six times, and rearrange our stunt groups ten times. We now have one main stunt group and three total. I have moved from base to flyer... now keep in mind, I have never even cheered before this year. I have a new respect for flyers and bases alike. Five of our girls/guys have injured their backs, one injured his arm and now wears a sling, one broke her nose, one flyer (the one I replaced) broke her ankle in two places, and everyone else has hurt themselves, thankfully not too bad though. I believe if it weren't for our determination to go to this competition, we definitely wouldn't have made it this far.

Thanks go out to the 2003 WHS Gator Competition Cheer Squad



Stewy's Story

Doesn't it always seem like you don't know what you've got until it's gone? That's how I realized that cheerleading was more than a sport to me--- It is a passion.

My sophomore year, I had made Varsity squad and hated it. I hated cheering--being drenched, frozen, and practically blown away during football season. I hated how angry fans threw candy at the cheerleaders during the game. I still hate how guys would crowd to see if I was wearing "underwear" when I walked up the staircases at school because it was "Spirit Friday."

However, when I tore my ACL during gymnastics one winter, it dawned on me why I chose to cheer in spite of all the things I hate. In any other sport, if you miss the catch, all you lose is the ball. In cheerleading, there is a bond of trust stronger than any that I've ever known. I missed being able to be with the girls I had grown to trust so well. Plus, I hated the feeling of looking down on the field and thinking, "That could have been me..." The good feelings that one can get from cheering are always stronger than the negative.

Now, no matter what condition I am in while I cheer (rain, sleet, or stairs), I remember one thing: It's better down here where I love it enduring a hardship than not cheering at all.

Brittany's Story

When I was a little girl all I thought about was being a cheerleader. I have a sister who is nine years older than me and she was a cheerleader in high school. It was my dream to be just like her. I was about 5 at the time that my mom made me a cheerleading suit that look just liked the big girls'. I cheered with them. I knew every cheer and every dance that they did. I was like part of the team. Every pep rally and every game I stood proudly beside my big sister. She graduated high school and cheerleading drifted into the back of my mind.

When I was going to be in the sixth grade they brought the middle school cheerleaders back. I was so excited! I couldn't wait to tryout. I practiced so hard! I didn't make it. I was crushed. All of my friends had made it and I didn't. But when 7th grade tryouts came around I was ready to try out again. And I made it. I was so happy. I think I smiled that entire year. Cheerleading became my life again. I cheered my 7th and 8th grade years. Then it was time to move up to high school. I was so ready for tryouts. I practiced so hard. I wanted it bad. My friend Jordan and I were so excited. It came time for the list of names to be posted. I walked up to it and there was my name and the top of the freshman list. I was so proud. I looked for Jordan's name, but it wasn't there. That was so hard. I loved cheering every minute of my freshman year. It was awesome.

Then tryouts came around for my junior year. We were getting a new coach and I had heard so many good things about her. I was so excited about being a part of her team. Try outs came and I was so nervous. I had talked Jordan into trying out again. We practiced all the time. I looked for my name on the list, but this time it wasn't there. Jordan's was. I was crushed. I thought life was over. Not only did I not make it but two girls that were going to be seniors didn't make it either. We didn't know what went wrong. Throughout the year the cheerleaders struggled. I had to listen to Jordan talk non-stop about it and I hated hearing about it. That year two cheerleaders quit and one was dismissed. Jordan was one of the girls that quit. Those three spots should have been mine and the other two girls, but I made it through the year. I tried out again for my junior year. I made it and was so excited. I am back! I missed cheering so much and now I have it back. I learned that if you really truly love something keep trying at it. You can do anything if you have determination. This year has only just begun... but I love every minute of it.

Tiffany's Story

I live in a small town with less than 100 people in it, and I'm 13 miles away from my high school, in a town with a little over 2,000 people, which is still small.

When I was in elementary school, I was extremely shy and didn't really make friends until 2nd grade. I wasn't popular, because I grew up different from the other kids in my class. Quite a few of the people in my school grew up on farms, like I did, but they all lived much closer to the town we go to school in and had more money. I never went to the little girls' cheer camps or played on any sports teams until I got to Junior High School, in 7th grade. I tried out for cheerleading, wanting people to notice me, but I didn't make it. I played volleyball, basketball, and went out for track.

My 8th grade year, I tried out for cheerleading again. I had quite a few friends by this time and was enjoying the sports I played. However, I only went out for volleyball and track that year. My freshman year, I was ready to try out for the high school cheerleading squad, but again, I didn't make it. I had more friends that year and I was always flirting with the guys.

Our tryouts are a month before school gets out, so I had already tried out, while I was a freshman, to be on the squad as a sophomore. The day after try-outs, my name wasn't on the list. I was terribly disappointed because I just knew that I had done well. After school, my mom and I stopped at the principal's office to see my score sheets because the cheerleading sponsor told us that she thought something was wrong because I had made so much improvement. My score sheets proved that I was good enough to be on the squad, so my principal said he would put me on as the 13th cheerleader. He also said I was good enough to make dance, but the needed an even number and there was too wide of a score range between me and the girl that would be number 12.

One of the cheerleaders moved away and that made the number of cheerleaders even, but there were questions by the students whether I should be on the squad or not. I had to practice harder than the other new cheerleaders to prove to those of the obnoxious students that I was definitely spirit material. I didn't really think I would like cheerleading. I wasn't happy because I didn't get along with the other cheerleaders, except my sister and two of her friends. However, as the year went along, I was enjoying myself tremendously and began to get along with a few other cheerleaders, and made some friends from other towns.

Tryouts came again last week for next year's squads, and I worked hard, but was terribly nervous; was worried that I wasn't good enough. I was happy with my performance though, and the next morning at school, I hesitantly checked the cheerleading list. I found my name, smiled widely, and went to tell my friends. They were happy for me, and I went to call my mom, and found my sister looking at the list. Of course, her name was on both cheerleading and the dance squad, and she said, "We made both!" I glanced again at the list, finding that my name was also on the Scarletts. This made me even happier!

This coming summer, I get to go to dance camp with my sister and then in August we'll help with the little girls' cheer/dance camp.

I still have a few friends that think cheerleading is stupid and that cheerleaders are, too, but they know I'm happy on the squad, and they're happy for me. They also know I'm not stupid. There will always be those girls in high school that will diss cheerleading and cheerleaders just because they never made it on the squad, but don't let anyone upset you by saying rude things about cheerleading. Cheerleading is a sport, and it's fun, so always try your hardest and just be happy with who you are, what you are, and what you're good at. Don't let people make you think that what you're good at isn't worth anything.



Miranda's Story

In the 6th grade I was walking down the hall and I saw a flyer posted up on the cafeteria door. I read it and it said Cheerleading Tryouts! I didn't know a thing about cheerleading, but I didn't care, I had the chance to be "a cheerleader"! So I signed up and tryouts came!

As I walked into the cafeteria where the tryouts were being held, I saw all of these girls in groups practicing. I went over to one of the groups and they were doing jumps, well one of them asked me to do a herkie, and I said, "What is a Herkie?" They looked at me in a very rude way and said, "You don't know what a herkie is! You're not going to make the squad." After that I just kept to myself and learned the cheer, chant and dance. I learned how to do jumps including a "herkie" and I learned proper motion technique.

The actual tryout day came and I was so nervous. We tried out it pairs and the moment my partner and I walked into the cafeteria I started spiriting and jumping! I was so excited. I yelled loud and hit my motions and jumps (they weren't the best, but I still acted as if I knew what I was doing). When we were finished I spirited out and waited for everyone else to try out.

After everyone tried out we had about a 30 minutes recess and then the names were called out. After about nine names, I felt as if I didn't make it and wanted to cry, but the last sentence she said, and last but not least Miranda Brown. I was so excited. I was a cheerleader!

The next Monday when I went to school, the group of girls that walked away from me because I didn't know how to do a herkie didn't make the squad. I went up and sat on a bench where everyone was, and they were playing charades (but with people). Then one of the girls that didn't make the squad got up and said, "Who am I?" She did a toe touch that barely got of the ground and landed with her feet really far apart. Another girl then said, "I know you're Miranda!" I then felt as if I was going to cry and walked away!

Later in the week, those same girls started spreading rumors about me, saying that I was going up to girls who didn't make the squad and saying, "Ha ha I made cheerleading and you didn't!" I would never do a thing like that, but anyway people believed them and I couldn't do anything about it.

When the season started the girls were not friendly to me at all, but I stuck it out because I was a cheerleader! At the end of the year tryouts for 8th grade had started and I ended up making the squad again! I just ignore all of the negative things people said about me and have made the cheerleading squad every year since! About my sophomore year when I was on junior varsity, I started having friends on the squad that were really nice! I must admit I have improved a great deal and it is because I didn't care what anybody else thought of me, I was a cheerleader! Now It is my senior year and my second year cheering for the varsity football/competition squad, I have been named captain and I am ecstatic! The moral of my story is to go for what you believe in although there may be a price to pay, but in the end it will all be worth it! To: all cheerleaders, always try you best, and cheer your heart out!



Marisa's Story

In 6th grade, I wanted to be a cheerleader so bad. At the tryout practices I did my best. I was sharp, loud, and perky. My voice rang out through the gym. The older girls who were trying out for their second and third times constantly gave me nasty looks in the halls. They said things about me behind my back and laughed to make sure I heard.

Finally, tryouts came. We were broken up into groups of four. When my group went in, I knew this was it. Just us and the judges. The first cheer was called off, and we began. I realized that the other 3 were as petrified as I was, but they were just barely whispering the cheer. This was my moment! I gave it my all, I didn't care what the other three thought. We did out dance and jumps, and that was it. The results were posted the next day, and I made it. I was so happy!

Now I'm in 8th grade and captain of the squad, and I couldn't ask for more. Sometimes when I think of the older girls mocking me, I laugh. I put my all into it and it landed me a space on the team. A message to everyone: it not what everyone else thinks about you, it's what you think about yourself!


Ashley's Story

This may sound weird, but my whole childhood I lived, breathed and played basketball. When tryouts finally came in 7th grade, I missed them because I was sick.

I loved the game soo much. I would do anything to see all the games. My next option was cheerleading. I wasn't so sure if I wanted to do i,t but I tried out anyway. Instead of making up some lame excuse, I'll just put it this way-- I was AWFUL. I was last on the list, but regardless I made it. I, in a way, improved my jumps and my stunting. But, it was obvious I needed some work.

After two seasons, I knew I wanted to continue cheering. By 8th grade my jumps went from hardly coming up off the ground to being an inverted jump. I was so proud of myself and I kept working ,knowing that if I kept trying I could only get better.

High school tryouts were coming up and I was so nervous. I felt sick the whole week before and I wasn't sure if I really wanted to try out. But I did. There was about 30 people or more trying out for varsity, so I had a feeling I wouldn't make it. I didn't care because there was always J.V. and that was the squad that I was supposed to be on as a freshman. After the second day of tryouts, the coach told us who would be trying out for what squad. I went down to get a drink and one of the girls who had already graduated came down after me to talk to me about something. Her exact words were, "I have been watching you since you were in 7th grade, you have improved so much. You are an amazing cheerleader. What would you say if we offered you a place on the varsity squad?" With that I started to cry.

Tryouts came around and I did my best. Our coach gave me my scores and I was third highest with only seniors beating me. I was soo excited. Now that I'm a sophmore I'm still on varsity and I'm loving every minute of it.

My advice to any cheerleader at any age is NEVER give up because if you keep trying you can only get better. Keep smiling and one day your dreams are going to come true.


Harmony's Story

Ever since I was little, I had wanted to be a cheerleader. At the end of the sixth grade, the announcements came on and the principle stated that cheerleading tryouts for the next year (my 7th grade year) were the following week. Three clinics and then tryouts on Friday after school. I decided to try out. I attended all of the clinics and then tryouts that Friday evening. I was so nervous! Several of my close friends tried out and afterwards, we had promised each other we would phone them if we had made it. You see, at my school, they call us after tryouts to tell us if we'd made it. I never got that one phone call I'd be wishing for. The following Monday, I found out that none of my friends had made it, so I really didn't care.

Tryouts for the 8th grade squad came at the end of my 7th grade year. I decided that I was not going to give up and tried out again. The night of tryouts I never got my call from the coach. I was devastated. Tryouts had been held on a Thursday that year, so on Friday when I went to school, it made it even worse for me. ALL of my friends had made the 8th grade squad, except for myself and two other girls. I cried all day and all weekend. It was so hard to face my cheerleader friends my 8th grade year. I would want one of them to go to the movies with me, and they'd say "Oh sorry, I can't, I have cheerleading practice". I knew I belonged on that squad.

I was so determined. I tried out my freshman year. I finally got that one phone call I'd been waiting for!!!!! I was SO excited! I instantly called all of my friends... we had all made the freshman squad! Although there were only 5 of us to begin with...I tried my hardest. By competition season, there were only 4 of us, and I was determined to go out on that floor at competition with only 4 of us. We were only up against one other freshman squad of 16 members. We got 2nd, needless to say, but I was devastated. I knew we could've done better.

I was determined to show everyone I deserved to be on that squad and that I hadn't just made it because they needed more people for the freshman squad. Soon, I got the respect I knew I deserved from the JV and Varsity squads. I had always worked my hardest and I'd never even thought about giving up. The season ended and then tryouts for JV and Varsity came. I made JV!!! Although 2 of my friends did not make it, one of my friends did. To me, JV and Varsity are the same because we cheer together for everything. There are 20 of us this year and I'm having the time of my life!!! I'd have to say that my favorite part of cheerleading is the friendships I have developed and also the stunting!!

I guess the whole point to this is to just encourage everyone to never give up, not only if you don't make the squad, but to never give up in life. When hard times come your way, just be determined and you'll get the most out of everything. Good luck to everyone and remember... smile!


Samantha's Story

Before I ever had dreams of being a cheerleader, I had a dream of being a member of the Dundee Dance Force. I really wanted to be a part of the dance force because two of my friends were trying out for it. They got to go to Florida and have fun partys and things if they made it. I tried out for Dance Force, but I didn't make it. I was devestated. I knew that I didn't have much dance experience, but I wanted to make it so bad. I tried so hard, and it didn't really pay off in the end.

A couple weeks later while I was coming back from my tumbling class (I had been in gymnastics for 6 years) a lady came up to me. She handed me a flyer. It said "TRY OUTS FOR THE BLUE DEVIL ALL-STARS." Right away I knew this is what I wanted to do. It sounded like a lot of fun. Plus, I would be able to use my tumbling skills from my gymnastics. When my mom got there to pick me up I showed her the flyer. I told her to talk to the coach that was in the gym. My mom talked to her. The coach had me do a toe-touch and a pike jump. She said I was very workable and I should come to try-outs!

A couple weeks later, it was time for try-outs! I was so nervous. We learned two cheers, as dance and we had to show our toe touch, pike jump and tumbling skills. The cheers were hard because there were a lot of tricky arm movements. The dance was easy and of course the tumbling was all good! I was a little shaky on the dance, but I did really well on the cheers. After I was done I left.

That night they were posting the results online. I had a sleepover with my friend at her house and we were constantly checking for the results! I was nervous because if I didn't make it I might be all upset in front of my friend. Soon enough they posted the results and I made it! I was soooo happy!

I hope my story is inspirational and that you see that good things happen to those who wait!


Summer's Story

I will never forget where I came from.

It was just a dream of mine, a common dream among young American girls... To be a cheerleader. As far back as I can remember, I thought about what it might be like to put on a uniform and wave pom poms at the crowd.

The opportunity came about to join the pep squad at my middle school in 6th grade. There was a rule that you had to be on the pep squad as a 6th grader in order to become a cheerleader as a 7th grader. I went to the information meeting, and was prepared to join... But then my mother found out how much cheerleading cost, and told me that it might not be a good idea. Besides, she told me that I did not have the time because she had to work, and I had to watch my sister. I tried to forget I'd even thought about it.

A month later, we moved to another state, and along came cheerleading tryouts for my new school for the following year. I asked my dad to help me pay for it if I made the team, and he accepted. How could I resist? I made the team.

Once again, I moved schools, and trying to keep my head high, I tried out for the 8th grade squad at my new school. Unfortunately, I did not make the squad. I was hurt not only because my dream didn't come true, but because I was "the new girl," my failure was magnified.

I tried to forget all about cheerleading once again, thinking that I would find something else that I loved as much. I didn't. One day I decided to call a local cheerleading gym about classes. I showed up for a class at the same time the all star squad practiced. Somehow I ended up stunting with them. They then drafted me onto the team. I got better and better. My jumps improved, I learned how to tumble. I was ready to try out for my school's JV squad. I made the team and I was finally a cheerleader.

Success did not come without ridicule. The girls that were my age that made the varsity team said that I was a bad cheerleader behind my back. That only pushed me harder. I went to camp with my squad and was nominated for UCA All Star. I was shocked that my coach would pick me. I cried and thanked her for the honor. It was an even bigger shock when they called my name and put a medal around my neck. I cried and cried. I had never been so happy. I was surprised that I was even nominated, but to actually receive the award was amazing. I thought it funny that those girls had said those things about me just before the fact.

Time came for varsity tryouts, and I prepared mentally and physically, spending day after day in the gym practicing. I thought about tryouts constantly. Then the day came, and as I walked up to the list of names, I didn't find mine. I felt like my world had ended.

I tried out for all stars again, knowing that one small failure couldn't crush the power of my goals and dreams. I improved more and more, and I felt a confidence that I had not experienced before. I was ready to try again. It was my last year to try out for varsity. I was sure I had it. Once again, my name was not on the list. I didn't understand. There were girls that were worse than I that made the team. I wanted answers. I went to the coach and demanded my scores. It turned out that my scores were added up wrong! But it was too late.

I will always think about that last tryout for varsity, knowing I gave it my best. I am about to try out for college cheerleading, and I know that if I do not make it, it is for a reason. I tried out for my school's wrestling cheerleading squad, and I was voted captain. I am still on all stars. One thing I have learned from all of this is that if you do not hold onto your dreams, they will get away from you forever. The question of what might have been will hang over your head for life. I would go back and do it all over again, knowing that I was not going to get what I wanted because of the lessons I've learned. It's been painful.

Someday I will be rewarded for my work. Until then... I'm pressing on.

If you are dealing with the same situation as Summer, she would love to help you. Her email address is: LilSumoSailor@aol.com


Sam's Story

I cheered since PeeWee and loved it to death. I always looked foward to practicing. I was a part of a Bill George league (somewhat like pop warner).

At competitions everyone feared the Panther teams. We always won. It was great, until this past year. It was my last year before highschool...only 20 days into practice. I have had bad knees all my cheerleading life. I wore knee braces for 2 years, but they were not enough for all my tumbling and stunting. I had to stop cheering and did not compete all year. I'm now going to have surgery.

Althought I do not practice, I still go and watch my team practice. They still consider me their team mate and an awesome cheerleader sister. I get cards and reassurement all the time from them-- hugs and kisses on the cheek. For all its worth, I love my team. They are the best team out there, and I don't know what I would do with out them. So, congrats to the best team ever-- 2001 Panthers.

Nikki's Story

When I was little the only way one could cheer for little league was if she had a brother playing football. Since I didn't have a brother playing football, I had to put off my dream of being a cheerleader until middle school. When tryouts came, I did my best.

Unfortunately I did not make it. I tried out every year from the time I was going into 8th grade, all through high school. When it was time for my freshman year of college, I decided to try one more time. I asked the cheerleaders at my school for help and was told everything from, "Nikki you were not good enough for high school, you'll never make it on a college team." to, "Nikki, you were not pretty enough for high school. You won't make it, so why try."

Before I go any further let me explain what I looked like. I was 5'4" tall, and I weighed around 175. My body proportions were matched up pretty good, but still, that's pretty heavy for a cheerleader. Anyway, I decided to go ahead and try out on my own. Well, I worked hard, very hard. The day to make my video came and I was so self-conscious about my weight I wore big baggy clothes. A few days later, the coach from the college I tried out for called me on the phone.

She called to tell me I had made the squad! She said that in a few days I would get my letter about my scholarship, but that she just wanted to call me and tell me how well I had done. Most of the other girls that made the squad were very skinny and had been cheerleading for a very long time. I was nervous that I wouldn't be as good as them. Then, one day at practice, we were perfecting this one cheer for a big game coming up and the formation called for two girls to be in the front row. In the cheer, the front row would have to do 2 back to back toe touches. The back rows only had 1. Everyone wanted the front row spots. So one girl said, "I think you should put the two that can do the best toe touches up front." The coach made us have a "jump" off. I was nervous, but gave it my best shot. I made front row. The other girl was a sophomore. I was so excited, unfortunately, several of the other girls were jealous and held it against me the rest of the year. That day at the end of practice the coach told me again how well I had done. Then she told me that my jumps were one of the things that had gotten me my spot on the squad. She said that most of the sophomores that had helped judge the tryouts couldn't see how someone of my size could get so high. I could do a standing pike jump and I was the only one on the squad that could.

Well, I only stayed at that school the one year. I began having tons of medical problems and had to come home. I loved cheerleading so much, that this year I began coaching little league. This the first year it has been an organization. I am Vice President of the organization. I am having so much fun teaching girls from 3 years old to middle school how to cheer. So, take it from me, never give up on a goal. Someday you will reach it. I had so many hurdles to overcome to get where I am today, and I can honestly say it's been well worth it!

Jennifer's Story

When I was 13, I wanted to be a cheerleader more than anything! It was my life! I practiced hard, cheered loud and according to a girl on varsity, did a great job at try-outs. I was thrilled. The next day, results came back. I was crushed. I hadn't made it. However, a girl with a bad attitude and sloppy movements had. That basketball season was the worst for me. I was so upset. The next year though, they got a new coach and I made JV! I was so excited. The year after that, as a freshman, I went straight to Varsity! By the time I was a junior, I was co-captain. Now I am captain. This just goes to show you that even if you don't make it at first, just keep trying! Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Good luck to all of you!!!!!!

Story of Dedication

I started out cheering for a pop warner team and did so for 7 years. I looked forward to attending practices even on August hot and humid nights. I finally was too old to cheer for pop warner and I entered high school. I entered high school with my head held high. I cheered my heart out at try-outs and made the freshman squad my freshman year. Our school did not compete, although I loved competing I also loved sideline cheering.

Our cheerleading advisor was an ex-advisor of a rival pop warner team. Once she found out I cheered for a team that beat her team numerous times while she was there, she strongly disliked me from then on. I was the loudest and most euthiastic on my team. It finally came time to try out for JV cheering. I felt my presentation was strong and I did okay. We waited 2 weeks for our results. The day we got results finally came. I DID NOT MAKE IT. I was devistated by this fact. I asked the advisors why I didn't make it and if I could see my scores. They told me to talk to the principal so I did. My mom finally got fed up with it all and called the Board of Education to find out why I didn't make the team. They finally decided to come up with some scores, but by then it was too late because my mom and myself realized why I didn't make it.

I had a cartwheel toe touch split and the 2 cheers that were required and they were done very well. It was all narrowed down to the one advisor why I did not make it because I wasn't one of her "orginal" from her pop warner squad. I couldn't go on without cheerleading in my life and everyone kept telling me I had more than enough to make the squad because I was the best cheerleader they had.

My best friend cheered for all-stars and she told me to try-out for all-stars and give it a shot. I tried out and held my head high and gave it everything I had except for the tumbling part because I only have a round-off. I made an all-star division and I am now working on my backhandspring (I'm so close) and I'll be right up there with the rest of the girls at the gym. If it wasn't for my dedication, my commitment to work hard, having the desire to succeed and my friend telling me I could do it, I don't think I would have been able to do it.

Helenah's Story

Swedish schools don’t have cheerleaders so you have join a team if you want to be a cheerleader. Most people don’t know what cheerleading is. Some of the teams cheer for a special football team, basketball team or something like that. Many cheerleaders just do shows and it doesn’t count as a sport, more like dancing. I’ve never cheered for a team, but a one of my friends has. She said that the crowds thought it was boring, which made it not fun to cheer!

On my squad we have about 30 girls between 9-14 right now, but it varies. Sweden does have some cheerleading competitions. There is the Swedish championship, but last year nobody knew about it. We have one hour practices where we work on cartwheels, somersaults, pyramids and a lot of dancing!

Since cheerleading isn’t very big in Sweden, I have to explain to some people what it is. I often say "You know those how those girls stand and yell on the sides of football games in American movies?? Those are cheerleaders." Then people usually understand what I mean. That’s what most people think of cheerleaders: Girls with mini-skirts and some paper thing (pom pons) in their hands. So sometimes it´s quite hard to be a cheerleader in Sweden.

Shellie's Story

In middle school I despised cheerleaders. I thought they were fake rah-rah's who had nothing better to do than wear short skirts to show off their legs and bloomers to older guys. I think back now and realize that judging by stereotypical views is the best way to remain close minded your whole life.

I ended up becoming friends with some cheerleaders through mutual friends, and as the end of 8th grade rolled around, B-team cheerleading tryouts were the talk of all the girls I was now friends with. I never thought of cheerleading as something I would be interested in, but just to see what it was all about, I decided to go learn the material, and see if just maybe, this was something I would enjoy. I made b-team. I had an awesome awesome awesome year. I loved camp, I loved stunting and tumbling, and most of all, I loved the girls. The crowds and the adrenaline were just so overwhelming when we would get to cheer at some varsity games.I knew that this was something I would stick with as long as I could. Of course, I tried out for JV. I made JV, and I was so involved with the squad, I just had a wonderful season, even though we had some really rough times. We started out with 15 girls and ended up with only 12 due to really stupid reasons, but all in all, we made it.

I found out how much work cheerleading really is, and how much dedication it takes to make doing this sport Worth the while. All of my JV year I took tumbling classes and worked my butt off so that I could guarantee myself some confidence about varsity cheerleading. The coach for varsity wanted only those who she could tell was going to put in as much time and effort as it took to win competitions and bring the crowd to a roar at games. For a while I didn't think I had much of a chance, but I just kept working harder and harder. I finally got a backhandspring, which was a varsity requirement. Then I got my round-off backhandspring.

Try-outs were last Saturday....and I was extremely extremely nervous. But, all my hard work and determination was visible to the coach, all of returning varsity and the judges. I finally made varsity, and I am just so exited about competition and camp. I love cheerleading, and I have finally made it to where I want to be. I just wanted to let any girls out there know that cheerleading is something that defines who you are, and anyone can achieve their goals if they are willing to put in the work. Good luck to anyone who is trying out soon, just DON'T FORGET TO SMILE :) !!


WPW Cheerleader's Story

One afternoon when I went to a football game I saw them...
The cheerleaders..
They were so talented and beautiful that I wanted to be one..I was kind of a tomboy when I was little so of course I made fun of them and made it look like I hated them which was just the opposite. I was scared of what my friends would say so I never told them, until one year when I was talking to my other friends that were cheerleaders. They said how great it was and how fun, so I was just like, "Forget this! I'm doing cheerleading!"

After sign ups I told all my friends that I was a cheerleader and guess what? They were happy for me! They couldn't believe it, but they were glad! They said they would encourage me and go to every one of my games! They respected my decision and didn't make fun of me. It was the happiest day of my life!
This is a message to all the girls who were or are like me. It shouldn't really matter others think, just do what you feel!


Coach Loie's Story

They weren't kidding when they gave me the "Most Potential" Award my freshman year of high school! I don't think that they knew how far I was going to take it.

I tried out for cheerleading in August after all of my friends had made the J.V. team in the previous May. As I looked around at all of the other girls' faces, I realized that this wasn't going to be just an after school activity.

I made the Varsity team as a freshman. At the end of that year was when I received the "Most Potential" Award. All I kept thinking was "What a stupid award!", of course I didn't know what "Potential" meant!

I moved from the big city that I grew up in to a smaller town half way across the State. There I met my favorite coach of all time. She was the most inspirational woman in my life. She struggled with cancer. As a devoted Christian, she believed that He would save her... and in a way He did. She passed away only a year after we met. I will never forget her strong heart, her love for not only this amazing sport but also her love for "her girls" and the way she embraced life, and death, with grace and hope that tomorrow would be a better day.

I graduated 4 years ago and I have been a coach ever since. There is no bigger joy than when I walk in the gym to see "my girls" and "Coach Loie", if I ever touch half of the lives you touched through your coaching, then it will be all worth it.


Brakefield's Story

Ever since I was little I have been a cheerleader, but one year it was taken away from me. You're probably saying to yourself, cheerleading can't just be taken from you, but it was. When I was in middle school I cheered for my school, and I had been in a little trouble my 7th grade year. By the time I got into 8th grade I was into the whole drug thing. I came to school intoxicated on the day of a pep rally and the game against our Rival. One of the other members on my team came up to me and asked me if I was on something and of course, I said yeah. About mid-day of school I got called to the principal's office and they asked me about what had happened earlier that day. Soon after that they came to me and said that I was no longer a part of the cheerleading team. I was devastated and I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror.

I decided to move to another state to live with my dad and make a new start for myself. I lived there for about 3 months and didn't like it. My mom called me one day and said that high school cheerleading try-outs were coming up. She asked if I wanted to fly down for about 2 weeks and try out just to see if I would make it. If I did I could move back. I said OK, sure, why not? I tried out and made J.V. All through the season I stayed out of trouble and my coach kept saying if I kept up all my hard work and not getting into trouble then I'd be on Varsity by the end of the year. So I did just that and before competition season started I was on Varsity and Varsity competition.


Cheer Girl's Story

When I was in 3rd grade my school started a cheerleading activity. I didn't really want to do it because I had heard of all the prissy cheerleaders plus I was really shy and scared to death of crowds. But, all of my friends were doing it so I decided to try out. After I had learning the cheers I had to tryout. This really scared me and I thought that I was going to do horrible. It's not that I didn't know the cheers, I did them great, it was that I was afraid to yell. When I got up on the stage all by myself I started. I was really quiet and I knew it. I knew I could have done better but I was satisfied.

Then the next day they posted the tryouts. There was a competitive squad and a noncompetitive squad. Everyone, of course, wanted to be on the competitive squad. All of my friends made the competitive squad. But not me. I was so upset. I cried for a really long time. Then I decided that I wasn't just going to be depressed I was going to do something about it. Every day the competitive team practiced my squad played around on the playground or were with their friends. But not me. I watched them the whole time. I learned their routine by sitting on the bench watching. They competed and did really well. But then one day one of the main girls quit. They were going to have tryouts for the spot but instead they put me in and I ended up doing more than the girl I replaced. It paid off, we won at State and tons of regional.

Now I am an all-star cheerleader and I am a billion times better than I ever imagined I would be. It just shows that you should never give up because someday it will pay off.


Kayla G.'s Story

This story made have no importance to anyone, its just hard for us to hold inside. I am co-captain of a CYO Varsity 5,6,7,8 grade squad. We recently went to our first competition. We practiced hard, numerous times a week in months in advance. Our squad really wanted that trophy to put in our case. Time flew by as we were practicing. The competition came up before we knew it. The morning of the competition we all met our practicing area, and had our hair put in two French-Braids by volunteers. We were ecstatic, yet nervous. When we arrived we noticed who we were going against. There were only two other squads there. One squad only had 3 girls on it!! We had seen all the girls getting ready for the competition. We could hardly wait!!!

As we watched the other squads perform, we noticed that the other squads were practicing hard also. It was our turn to go out and do our cheer and chant. We hit all the moves, we smiled, and were loud!! We thought we might have chance against the squads. Then, the squads did their pom-pom routines. Some of the dances were really good! We kept our hopes up. It was our turn! We ran out onto the court and danced our hearts out!! We did everything right! When we realized how good we did, we thought we might receive that trophy we desired. We all sat together looking at each other, and squeezing each others hands. The Cheer and Chant winners were not us. We were depressed, but remembered we could still get a trophy for our dance. The pom-pom routines winner was not us either. We slowly walked out of the gym, with a feeling of great depression. Our squad had tried so hard, even had our hair braided for the competition. The winning squad was receiving flowers from their fans. They were surrounded by photographers. It was hard to watch them being treated like movie stars. We kept our heads up, and congratulated the other squad. It was hard being defeated, especially when we tried so hard. Next year, we will just try harder.


Diana M's Story

"When I was younger, I used to have this friend, Paula, and she was so great at gymnastics and tumbling, which made her perfectly fit for a cheerleader. I always wanted to be a cheerleader ever since I watched my first cheerleading competition on ESPN. Well anyway, I had just started my first year as a 7th grader, and heard they were holding tryouts for the cheerleading squad, I was so anxious and tried so hard during tryouts with my best friend Paula. I made it to second cut, along with my friend. I was so happy, and inside had a feeling that soon enough I would be on the cheerleading squad.

Well the next day, second cut was being held and the cheer that we learned totally messed me up because of the hard foot movements and I got really nervous. I hardly yelled and didn't even do the cheer right. Unfortunately I hadn't made it, and Paula did, which made me go home crying. I had totally given up on cheerleading, thinking I was just not good enough.

That December I moved out to Long Island, NY which was an hour away from my old town. It hurt a lot to be away from my best friend, but I survived. In June, they were holding tryouts for cheerleading, for the 2000-2001 season, and I decided to build up some confidence and tryout again. I worked so hard, and gave it my all, and I made it! This year, being an 8th grader and part of the cheerleading squad at my school, I've made so many new friends, and built up my confidence so much. It's really important to never give up on anything. If you fail, then try, try again!!!"


Amanda's Story

I am a freshmen and the week of try-outs came and you wouldn't believe how nervous I was!! I smiled and I tried my hardest!! A couple of the girls who were already cheerleaders were saying that I was really good and that there might be some competition going on between me and this one girl. I personally thought she was way better but, still. So, after everyone had tried out they called everyone back in. They read off the Varsity list first. Two of my best friends made it onto varsity. Then they read off the JV list. I made it!! I was so happy. A lot of the varsity cheerleaders who were seniors or juniors were saying that I should have made varsity and they didn't know why the coach hadn't chosen me instead of one of the other two. I didn't care!! All that mattered was that I made it!

Within the next few weeks, camp came. I was having so much fun!!! I've been a dancer for 10 years and we were learning this one dance at camp. I thought it was so much fun. One of the instructors took all the JV girls out of the auditorium and we sat down and started to talk. She told us that the Varsity cheerleaders were inside learning another dance. I told her that I wanted to go in and learn it too!!! She said it was only for Varsity and that we couldn't learn it. I was so upset. I got one of my friends to show it to me as soon as they were done and in a matter of 5 minutes I had it down PERFECT!!! I couldn't stop doing it!! It was more fun than the other one. The coach saw how much I enjoyed doing it and that I was eager to learn more!! She came up to me and asked if I wanted to join Varsity and I swear I almost started to cry!!! What I'm trying to say is show them that you can do it!! Show them that you want to do it and that you will do whatever it takes just to be involved!! Never stop trying and DON'T, absolutely DON'T forget to SMILE!!!! : )


Cindi Bailey's Story

Terror fell upon the student's faces at Gwynn Park High on Monday, June 5th 2000, as one by one, we each started accepting the facts. Our beloved Jesse Kiley, JV football player and proud member of the c/o 2002 had died from heart failure, on the previous Friday.

The sophomore class last year had their "moving up" ceremonies, without a vital member. Jesse James Kiley. Not only a loss to the cheerleaders, but also a lost to the entire school. This was the second outstanding athlete at our school this year who has passed away. Two dreadfully awful funerals we've had to endure, two heart filled goodbyes we've had to relinquish. Two open caskets we've had to stare into and know we'd never see the loved one in them ever again.

A beating heart inside my spirited little cheerleading body, cried for Jesse the day of his funeral. Five buses full of students from school went to say their final goodbyes to #55, AKA Beefcake, my dear friend. We all pressed on and endured the finailitied of the closing of the school year. The Varsity football team began their season grudgingly this year without Jesse. My mind, moved on without him, but he always exists in my heart.

I love you Jesse.


Joy's Story

As a little girl I remember holding my mothers hand as I entered the jam-packed stadium, smelling the guys with too much cologne on and buttery popcorn. But out of all the things I noticed on those cold Friday nights, were the cheerleaders. Smiling beautifully in their crisp green and white uniforms. All moving together like a well-oiled machine. Their bouncy hair and pearly smiles sparkled as excitement glittered in their eyes. Then there were the stunts.... throwing the flyer in the air so effortlessly. The flyer looked so graceful. I would go home and dream about being her someday. There was no doubt...cheering was my destiny....

Then as time progressed on I grew into a young lady at the ripe old age of 8--we moved and would be my life away from the crisp green and white... to the dazzling black and gold. Most girls my age were joining junior pro teams or peewee squads... but not me... my mother wanted me to concentrate on my schoolwork. Feeling lost and confused about the matter I let my dream of winning nationals in high school slip away. I became one of those people who hated cheerleaders. ECH! Their constant peppiness...who could stand it? Then as I got into the middle school I tried out at the end of my seventh grade year and I made the V squad... as they called my name tears poured down my cheeks with happiness and I ran down the stairs of the gym and hugged my new sisters. The ones that I would have to trust with my life.

Practices began and so did the fun. Each practice was giggling, jokes and cheering. On the first home football game they introduced the players and cheerleaders. They called my name and I was in shock, not only was I a cheerleader, but I was the captain!! Happiness filled my body and tears poured from my eyes.

As the buzzer signaled the start of the game up went our first stunt. An easy liberty that we had practiced through and through. Up to the extension prep and then up to an extension where I held my liberty tight. I felt safe. The crowd showed its appreciation and then we did an easy rainbow cradle. The first cheer was up and we had another extension. Holding me there... the cheer began. Panthers! Are you ready to yell!? Go Big P! The rhythm of the cheer pounded through my body as I went through the complex motions. I guess that I was too into the game to hear the shouts of warning from the crowd... or to see the football player come hurdling toward the stunt. The bases tried to get me down as quickly as possible... but it was too late. The football players crashed into the stunt and I fell, head first. My arm smacked on the railing of the stadium and me head hit the ground hard, bouncing twice. Blood poured from my mouth and nose and the crowd swarmed in front of me, then blackness swallowed me. I thought for sure that I was dead!

The paramedic later told me that I had lost consciousness and that I had damaged a nerve in my neck and I had broken my arm. They told me no more cheerleading. I lay on the stretcher crying. It just wasn't fair...after I was released from the hospital my cheerleading sponsors told me that I was still on the team... but again... no more cheering. That broke my 13-year-old heart. I sank into a depression and cried day and night. I couldn't cheer so I didn't go to any of the games. My sponsors were beginning to worry about me and they often came by for visits to see how I was...I plastered on a smile and said I was fine... and they always left seeming satisfied. I came to the last home game after persistent begging from my mother. To my surprise at half time... the cheerleaders took the field and did the cheer that had destroyed my dream. Tears poured from my eyes as the accident lived in my mind for the millionth time. After the cheer ended the cheerleaders lined up along with the players from both teams came out onto the field. My co-captain Caitlin hushed the crowd and began a story. My story. A plaque was held up and I noticed a patch on the uniforms of the players and cheerleaders with my name stitched across it. They dedicated the plaque to me and retired the cheer I was injured on. A cheerleading uniform was raised to the rafters with the jerseys of retired numbers and fallen players. There was no doubt about it... cheering was my life.



Jen's Story

"Last year, I tried out for cheerleading and was disappointed to learn that I only made JV. It was ok. I stuck it out and cheered. At the beginning of basketball season, all but me and this other girl quit the squad. We cheered together for about 3 games, when she decided that she wanted to quit!! That left me all alone. Well, I still stuck it out and cheered the remainder of the games by myself!! This gained a lot of respect for me, not only by my school, but by other schools as well!!"


Arlie's Story

"I had always wanted to be a cheerleader, as long as I can remember. My mom always told me I could do it if I really wanted to, and I believed her. So, in middle school I tried out. The coach was my reading and math teacher, and she never really liked me. Lets just say that she liked all of the girls that were extremely happy, beautiful and popular. That just wasn't me. I was happy, but not extremely, I was pretty, not beautiful, and I had friends, but I wasn't popular. So needless to say, I was not picked to be on the squad. I was depressed, but I thought, "oh well, I'll work really hard and try out next year."

So I did. I practiced almost every night, and tried extremely hard. However, the next year I still didn't make it. Or the year after that, even though when I looked at the score sheet, I saw that a girl that had made it had received less points than I had. I was depressed again, and it was a bad time in my life.

Finally came my freshman year. I was so excited! A new school, new friends and teachers, and a new cheerleading coach. A new chance at getting picked. I was excited, but not hopeful. I figured it would be the same way it always was. So, the day of tryouts came. My hands were sweaty, I couldn't breathe, but I did my best when it was my turn to show my stuff. When my coach announced the names, I couldn't believe it. I had made it on the J.V. squad. I finally felt good enough, and pretty enough, to make it, to have the privilege of cheering for a high school team. I felt like Miss America every time my name got called off for being a Comet cheerleader. I was made captain of my J.V. squad, and eventually in the middle of the season, my coach moved me up to Varsity, where I have been for basketball and football ever sense.

I'm a junior now, captain of my Varsity squad, and I have more confidence now than I ever had. I just smile every time the junior high cheerleading coach comes to one of our games, and I do a cheer just for her-- a good one, then I think "Ha! Look what you could have had!" "


J.W.'s Story