The junior cheerleaders performance was on Friday, October 13th, during halftime at the home football game against Clever. This performance showcased their dance they had learned throughout the camp as well as their jumps and cheers.
Samantha Padgett, Varsity Head Coach, is in charge of junior cheer camp as well as high school cheer, Coach Padgett stated, “Junior cheer camp allows anyone who is in pre-school through sixth grade to have an opportunity to work with the high school cheerleaders and perform during a high school game.” She added that this camp gives the high school team the opportunity to teach future cheerleaders the basics of cheerleading.
Reese Wells (11), a high school cheerleader, stated, “We split the high school team up by grades. Usually two high schoolers per grade.” High school cheer is in charge of teaching junior cheer what their dance, chant, and cheer is for their performance.
Lizzy Taylor (10) stated how beneficial the cheer camp is to the high school, “… It is [Cheer Camp] just another way to introduce the young kids to the sport and get them interested in it to where they might look into trying out for the varsity team when they get to high school.” It’s also beneficial to the high school cheerleaders by giving them a break from their own practices.
“The best thing about junior cheer camp is watching the high schoolers and junior cheerleaders form relationships that last all year long,” Coach Padgett stated. The high school cheerleaders stated that it was fun seeing the young cheerleaders enjoy something they do every day and how much they look up to the “big cheerleaders” as they would call the high schoolers.
Wells stated, “The best part is doing the ‘Koog’ which is a pair of pom poms that go home with the most spirited cheerleader that day.”
The camp clinics began on Tuesday, October 10th with two more practices on Wednesday and Thursday from 3:45pm to 5:30 each day.
The high school cheerleaders also hold a junior cheer camp for basketball, which they will perform at a varsity basketball game as well. Each performance is different and takes a different amount of time. For the entirety of each performance the goal is to keep the time under five minutes.
