Embedded Files
In this article, Izzy talks about GPHS cheerleading tryouts., including interviews with two girls from the GPHS cheerleading team.
GPHS Cheerleading tryouts
GPHS Cheerleading tryouts
By: Izzy Westfall
By: Izzy Westfall
At Grants Pass High School, we have a cheerleading team that does many services for our school. They cheer on our football team and basketball, too. During basketball season, our varsity team goes on to competitions, including state. There are two teams for cheerleading: varsity and junior varsity. This year, May 6-9 are the tryout dates for incoming freshmen and all of the other grades. Our GPHS cheerleaders do a lot of projects throughout their season other than cheering for football and basketball. The varsity team helps out Santa during the Christmas tree lighting downtown. They also go to UCA camp during the summer and learn a bunch of new skills and build team bonding skills.
The GPHS cheer team becomes like a second family with how much time they spend together. They are always there for each other. Cheerleading brings out self-confidence, and it is a sport, so it increases mental and physical health. When being on a team with lots of people, there are many opportunities to make new friends and create connections with others. Cheerleading is a whole different vibe from other sports but in such a good way. It brings out good characteristics in the people who are on the GPHS team.
Image credit: Jennifer Whitney Photography
Image from the GP Cheer Instagram page
Gabrielle Waite, a junior on the varsity team, said that “cheer has helped me with my confidence and it definitely helped me realize my self-worth. It’s helped me make new friends! It's also helped me stay active and keep my energy up as well as prove my leadership skills and communicative skills.” Her ability to find all of that in just one sport is so inspiring. Gabrielle has been on the cheerleading team for three years and will continue next year for a total of four. She said that what she most enjoys about cheerleading is “the friends that I've made on the team and the coaches and how they give so much love to each other and our team. It's like a big family.” Gabrielle feels like her connection with her team grows more and more as the years go on and new people join. Cheerleading is like a big, welcoming family, with open arms to join.
Kalliope Clark, a freshman on the GPHS junior varsity team, said that being a cheerleader is to her means “having the ability to have school spirit and putting yourself on the line to show everyone that you care. Most people do care, but they're too scared to show it.” The way that she cares about her school is moving because a lot of teens do not care to do school spirit activities. Cheer brings that out in people. She said that cheerleading has helped her to become “a lot more social with others and I've learned to work well with others because we were such a close group whe we would stunt.” Cheerleading involves stunting, where teams throw and hold people in the air. This is an important part of cheer, and Kalliope thinks that stunting has helped her get more comfortable with working with other people. Cheerleaders have to work with other people all the time, but that is how they grow so close.
Cheerleading might not be for everyone, but tryouts are soon, so try and possibly join that big family that many claim to love. It brings out many great qualities in people and it is fun. In high school, if there is one thing that should happen, it is having fun. If you enjoy what you are doing, then you will be a lot happier.
Sources:
Sources:
Interview with Gabrielle Waite
Interview with Kalliope Clark
Page updated
Report abuse