This year, the Big Sandy Pioneers have an entire cheer squad: Brooke Cope, Camielle Nissen, Ali Moresette, Natalie Lavenger, Jamie Jones, and mascot Chase Gasvoda. They were joined by a new Cheer Coach, Leslie Gregory. It was exciting to see more than two or three out there.
Leslie said, "I didn't have any experience with cheer-leading and I am still learning. My goal this year was to get them to look and sound like a team." They ordered new uniforms, which was decided on by the whole team. If you noticed, even their shoes matched, and they also wore the same hair. Of the total squad, only two cheerleaders and the mascot had any experience, Camielle Nissen, Jamie Jones and Chase Gasvoda. Leslie had experience in dance, which brought a few ideas to the table. She said, "I enjoyed getting to know all of them, and I had a lot of fun. The girls have been a huge help in teaching me, but we also have some great ideas for next year." Yes, she plans on coaching next year as well, and there was only one senior on the squad, and that was Chase.
As a senior, Chase likes being a mascot. He said, "The reason why (he likes) being a Pioneer is because it shows you that you can be strong, loyal, brave, and confident in your abilities and your powers inside you. You will always be able to support the others you love and care about, protect them, and spend fun time with them. It's a lot of fun." He told me about the suit; it gets hot, but it is fun. He can't spend the entire time at the games living in the suit.
Everyone remembers the day when the student body and the crowd had way more spirit. Everyone would yell in support of the team and in support of the cheer squad. It made going to the games a lot of fun. This one cheer went, "We have spirit, yes we do. We have spirit. How about you," and then they would point to a different section of the auditorium. They would pick up the cheer and point back. Back and forth it would go. That cheer would not work this year because few people actually cheered with the Cheer Squad. They are looking forward to next year to increase the school's spirit.
"The crowd was more involved last year. We are a bigger group of cheerleaders. We've been so small the last few years, and there's like new cheers that we've added, so they don't really know them, so it's hard for them to be engaged at times if they even show up. If they show up, most of the time, they don't even show up to the games. There's been a couple of games. It's more frustrating than discouraging."
"I feel like we're all very dedicated. I guess we're all very set to stone (meaning solidly dedicated) when we make a decision to do something. We don't get discouraged when the crowd doesn't participate."
"We don't get the recognition that we would like. It's just that it gets frustrating when we try to do those cheers over and over again, and then they don't end up participating." Despite these challenges, they remain dedicated and continue to strive for a more spirited school community.
"We have new cheers, and they don't know the words, but even the old cheers we've had for years, they still don't (participate). They still don't do it. It's sad when we go spell pioneers, and five little girls are louder than an entire crowd."
Next year, they are determined to bolster school pride and participation among the student body and the crowd. They are committed to making a difference and are looking forward to a more spirited year.
But they had a lot of fun practicing and making decorations. They wanted Leslie to know how much they appreciated her and how much she has done for them. They had "workouts with her and stuff, which was time-consuming. I don't know, I liked that aspect of it, but also when we weren't very like peppy, she was. Leslie is like headstrong." Leslie laughed, but she also knew they were right. She worked at being a coach and getting the girls to give their best. "It's just that Leslie pushes us to go out of our comfort zone, but she makes us comfortable in doing the things that we are supposed to do as cheerleaders. So it's easier to be cheerleaders with her as our advisor because she helps us and encourages us."
Leslie says she still needs to learn about cheerleading. "I want to do better. I do."
The main reason I wanted to interview this team is that they are trying to do something new and different. I don't think cheerleaders have gotten the recognition they deserve as a team over the last few years. This year, they have achieved a lot, from ordering new uniforms to learning new cheers. I think it's important that they be recognized for their efforts. They have done a lot of work this year. Thank you and congratulations. Next year, I know you'll work hard, too.
