Starting a New Cheer Team: A Journey of Hard Work, Trust, and Growth
By Alissa De los Ríos
January 27, 2025
Starting a new cheer team at school has been one of the most exciting and challenging experiences of my life. As the captain, leading this team alongside my co-captains, Danny from 10th grade and Solana from 7th grade, has been a rewarding adventure. Together, we’ve built something from the ground up, and while it hasn’t been easy, it has been worth every ounce of effort.
For our Christmas dance performance, we spent over four months practicing. It might sound like a lot, but every moment we invested paid off. Seeing our hard work come together on stage, with cheers, stunts, and synchronized moves, has been an unforgettable experience. Even after that, we continue to push ourselves, creating new cheers every class and challenging ourselves with more intricate moves.
Learning the stunts come with a mix of excitement and fear. At first, it was terrifying to see people fly through the air. Our four best flyers—Amelia, Ruby, tiny Ella, and Chloe—were understandably scared of falling. But through trust, patience, and lots of practice, they overcame their fears and now, they’re flying high with confidence, and we, as their bases and back spots, are always there to catch them.
Our bases, including Zeltzin, Danny, Solana, CC, Mae, Azalea, and myself, have a tough job. We lift, catch, and balance not only the flyers but also the “bigger smaller” girls from elementary, making sure everyone feels supported and safe.
Cheer is more than just enthusiasm and energy; it’s about technique, teamwork, and trust. Accidents happen, but our team has been lucky. Thanks to the constant vigilance of our back spots and bases, no one has been seriously hurt, and we’ve avoided major falls.
Our coaches play a huge role in our success. They push us every class, guiding us through the proper techniques and encouraging us to go beyond our limits safely. Cheerleading is an extreme sport—it requires physical strength, mental focus, and a lot of discipline. It’s not just about the big smiles and jumps you see on stage. Behind those smiles are hours of hard work, muscle aches, and mental preparation.
Currently, we’re working on our performance for Hawks Day, and the stakes feel higher than ever. Each class brings more complicated stunts and challenges, but as a team, we’re learning to trust one another and push through our fears. Every throw, catch, and balance move feels like a victory.
Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come as a team. Starting something new wasn’t easy, but it has been an incredible journey of growth. The fear of flying, the trust we’ve built, and the challenges we’ve overcome have made us stronger, both as individuals and as a team. Cheer has taught us the importance of working hard, staying safe, and supporting one another, no matter how tough it gets.
So, the next time you see us smiling and jumping around, remember—it’s not just for show. Behind that smile is a story of trust, effort, and perseverance. We’re still new to cheer, but we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited for what’s to come. With every practice, we’re reaching new heights—literally and figuratively—and I couldn’t be prouder of our team.
