This summer, the upcoming freshman cheerleaders put in long practice hours for this season. Along with having a new coach, Mackenzie Jankovich, they are completely new to the setup of high school cheer. Their new coach set up practices for them to attend, so they could acquire the high school skills required for cheer. They spent time focusing on becoming the best they could be while still having fun. Their coach reminds them that they need to look good while representing Lakeview, but also lets them have fun. They also participated in fundraisers over the summer, along with the 7-12th-grade cheer camp, and most recently, the elementary school cheer camp, as well as the September 5th LLB football game. They have put in time and effort while also becoming a strong team.
The girls enjoy cheering in high school and love the experiences! Freshman Cheerleader Rylan Bland said, “ It was so much fun walking down the hallways and cheering and dancing with the band and being included this year! We have so much fun dancing, we are always laughing, and we have the best time!”
As Bland stated, these girls are enjoying their time, experiences, and memories are being made. They are showing that they are starting their high school cheer journey off to a great start while not taking anything for granted.
The girls are also very grateful to have a coach who values them having fun, but also wants them to be the best version that they can be. Freshman Cheerleader Bayleigh Wistar said, “The freshman squad has put in so many hours of work not only during the school year but over the summer too. We work hard to ensure that we look sharp and game-day ready! Practices are always so much fun, and I’m thankful that we have a coach who will be sure to remind us when it’s time to lock in so that we don’t embarrass ourselves. I’m so proud of our squad and how far we have come since this summer, and I’m so excited to see what the rest of the season will bring us!”
Along with what Wistar said, it is very important to have a great coach who cares about your experience and cares about your performance, and that’s exactly what the cheer coaches at Lakeview bring to the table.
The girls put in time at practices but still enjoyed every second of it. Freshman Cheerleader Jade McClellan said, “ Summer practices were so fun! We each got to bond and get to know each other as well as our coach. I enjoyed that we had an expectation, yet we still had room to goof around and have fun! Summer practices were just the beginning of our amazing season to come!!”
As McClellan stated, the girls improved their techniques and skills while maintaining a positive attitude, which is essential for cheering. Their team has a great bond, along with their coach, which is a valuable asset in cheer.
The freshman cheer team is not only demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication but also setting a high standard of enthusiasm and unity. Their collective effort and positive spirit promise a bright future for Lakeview cheerleading, inspiring future squads to embrace the same level of commitment and joy. Their ability to balance hard work with fun is truly commendable and sets a fantastic example for years to come.
In cheer, you have to be positive and sharp all the time, and the Freshman cheer team is doing an amazing job at this. They are setting the bar very high for the next freshman squads to come in. Their technique has improved a lot over the summer, and I wish them the best of luck throughout the rest of their high school cheer career!
