The Clarke Central High School varsity basketball cheer team practices in the New Gym on Oct. 23. After losing nine seniors from the 2018-2019 season, the CCHS varsity basketball cheer team currently has three seniors on the team. “There (are) a lot of new people but I feel like that means we got to work hard, as old people, to help new people learn faster. But you got to understand that everybody is different, so they learn (at) a different pace,” CCHS varsity basketball cheerleader Miayata Freeman, a senior, said. “We just got to take our time and have patience. I think they’re gonna learn. They’re doing good.” Photo by Luna Reichert
The Clarke Central High School varsity basketball cheer squad will kick-off the season on Nov. 6, against Cross Keys High School.
The Clarke Central High School varsity basketball cheerleading team will begin its season with a preview game against Cross Keys High School on Nov. 6 at CCHS.
Cheerleading team tryouts were held from Sept. 24-26 and began official practices on Oct. 21.
“Each year, after we have the tryouts and we see who’s made it, we try to find leaders that are returning cheerleaders (to help new people) because we have 75 to 85 cheers that have to be learned before the start of a season,” CCHS head varsity basketball cheer coach Tracy McIntyre said.
In order to reach the goal of knowing around 80 cheers, the team prepares in various ways such as holding practices every Monday and Wednesday.
“We always like (to) try to learn at least 10 cheers every practice. We have a cheer group chat and we send videos in the group chat to help break it down for extra practice for people so they can practice at home,” CCHS varsity basketball cheerleader Miayata Freeman, a senior, said. “Another technique that we use is (varsity) cheers in front of the (junior varsity team) and the JV (team) cheers for the varsity so we can critique each other.”
Overall, McIntyre is optimistic for both the coaches and the team this season.
“(I) just (am hoping for) a good season. Drama free, which is what we pushed a lot. You know girls can be girls, but we can’t let them get in the way because we got a lot of work ahead of us and the season is so long,” McIntyre said. “We want it to be a fun experience for everybody.”
