Going out with honor

Whew! It's over. Football season is finally over.
Another win, a big one- 48-13 against West Harrison.

As hard as it was, fighting, complaining, missing practices, family crises, illnesses, cussing, not knowing chants, not chanting, being A.W.O.L. from "windows" during games...

I'm actually really proud of this group of girls. Seriously. They performed better in our first game (Away v. Manning Sept.2) than I expected they would.

The Monday after an abysmal performance at home v. CAM, Anita Oct 14, I read them the riot act, and then, Kayla Lawson (Heather's older sister) did to. Let me tell you, that Tuesday they were a different squad. The next game, away against Treynor Oct 21 they were AMAZING.

Tonight they were almost as good (it might hurt their feelings to hear me say "almost") but tonight they ALSO got Andrea up in a half-extension! AND they invited the Junior High squad to perform a chant with them- witch both squads did great on!

With som much buzz and so many candidates, the chemistry will no doubt be different for basketball- and I won't lie, I'm looking forward to it- be that as it may...

No one would have ever thought that Larissa would ever stand in front of the whole school/town and cheer. She's the quietest girl you'll ever meet. People assume she's shy and dark and sulky and sad and likes it that way. But she's one of the bravest, calmest kids I know.

Nikki drives people crazy because she's always talking and moving, but that's exactly what makes her an awesome cheerleader- she's always full of energy and excitement.

Nichole was the most clunky, uncoordinated kid in junior high, but she worked and trained herself and showed enormous determination to improve and she did it.

Andrea told me that coming out for cheerleading was a life-altering decision that she made. I hope she still feels like that's true. No one would have ever thought that she would come out for cheer, they assume that she's brooding and sardonic and critical of perky people. And that's some of what drove her. She wanted to prove her critics wrong. While I still think she's too hard on herself, she made it. By this last game, she knew most of the chants and kept up. And managed to not kill Nikki...and was the flyer in a half-extension.

I appreciate Heather so much. Not just because of her awesome flips and tumbling, but because she was our glue. Our stabilizing element. She's the one who ran after people who stormed off and wanted to quit. She's the one person of the twelve who never went negative, who never felt sorry for herself and never complained. Even when she lost her Grandpa. She's steady and she leads both by directing people and by example. And even though she's a natural born flyer, she didn't hog the glory but became an outstanding base too.

And Rena. Wow. What a difference from last year. I see it, former cheerleaders see it, other teachers and administrators see it. She was harassed and tormented by classmates last year. This year she's EmCeeing pep-rallies and calling most of the chants and making most of the decisions at games. She encouraged junior high girls to take cheerleading seriously yesterday because of how much it can teach you. She still may have more to learn and more ways to grow, but I'm really proud of her.

After Student Council announced the Football, Band, and Cross Country Seniors and their parents, the girls surprised me- Heather came over the P.A. and they thanked me for my work this season. Then the squad presented me with a batch of cupcakes.

Aw shucks!

Now, a week off of Varsity, then Tryouts.