MS Cheer Practice

Senior Kassi teaches the eighth graders some chants.

I'm excited about the Middle School cheer squad this year. At first I was nervous, no one was coming out. Then, a bunch of 8th grade volleyball players came to me and wanted to learn cheerleading on Wednesdays and some Fridays when they don't have VB practice. Maybe I'm cynical enough to figure they just didn't want to go to study hall, but they've all taken to cheer like fish to water. Most Wednesdays Christine, a Junior helps me teach them, but today she met with a college rep (okay a Navy recruiter, but she wants to go to the Naval Academy). Anyway, with her gone, Kassi stepped in and they must've learned 6 or 8 chants and they look and sound better than any junior high squad I've seen in years!

I wish I had them 4 days a week and I wish that there weren't so few JrHi home football games, because these girls are gonna be every bit as good as any Jr Hi squad I used to have back at LALHS. No offense BV alum, but as good as some of you have been, you usually didn't get very good until you were in high school. I'll be blue if most of them play basketball next season and if none of them cheer next year, because they're a terrific bunch. No drama so far either. Can you believe that?

Mr. Mallory's Awards Banquet thing

Good evening, I'm sorry that I can't be there tonight. At the time of this writing I haven't decided yet if I will be attending my daughter Ellen's PreSchool Graduation, or if I'll still be stuck on the couch with the flu.

I hope that all of the coaches' jokes have been as good this year as usual.

Will this year's cheerleaders for both the Football and Basketball seasons please come up and together?

Above all, I want to thank ALL of the Boyer Valley fans, students, parents, and community- I've watched as school spirit and Bulldog pride have continued to grow. Supporting our teams while having fun and making noise in a positive way is what cheerleading is all about. Without great crowds though, cheerleaders can't lead cheers. Without fantastic fans like Boyer Valley has, they aren't cheerleaders, they'd just be cheer-ers, or something like that. So thank you Bulldogs for being loud and being proud.

It isn't easy to stand in front of hundreds of people and try to get them to shout with you and encourage teams.

It takes a very special type of person- either someone with truckloads of school spirit and plenty of courage, someone who's not afraid to get rowdy... either that, or else it takes a major megalomaniac who's starved for attention.

This year's football megalomaniacs- uh, cheerleaders braved bugs and heat and cold and rain and wind and Coach Mallory's driving school vans to away games.

They were: Freshmen MecKensie Jensen, Sasha Meggers, Megan Nielson and Junior Rena Hayden

These were your Football Cheerleaders

This year's Basketball cheerleaders braved wicked cold drafts through gym doors, sweltering hot gyms, and basketballs, players and referees that came careening into them with no warning almost every game.

They included letter winners: Sophomore Vicki Jones, Junior Kayla Donscheski and two amazing Seniors who will be sorely missed, Cassie Androy and Angie Kirk.

These were your Basketball Cheerleaders

And finally, I feel especially bad for not being able to attend tonight because we need to recognize an outstanding athlete who usually isn't thought of as an athlete- usually he's thought of more like a plush toy. He can run, jump, hurdle, dance, dodge and escape chasing Elementary kids who want to yank his tail. He has entertained children and adults, teased, provoked, performed with and at times directed cheerleaders. He has studied, planed and practiced routines and taken meticulous care of his uniform (er, costume). That costume, by the way, means that no matter what he's done at every game, he has been at least 30 degrees hotter than everyone else. In the last seven years there have been only three full-time mascots, which means that this athlete has not only played, but started all four years of his high school career.

Tonight we want to say thank you, we're proud of you, and we will miss you to Senior Brett Malone

Your Boyer Valley Bulldog!

______________________________________________________________
PS- Sorry I couldn't be there tonight, I'm really feeling quite "shredded," as Cameron said in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Football girls, we've gone through a lot ever since Jr Hi Cheer and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Basketball girls- you four shows the most commitment and work ethic - guess I should've just had 4 for both seasons, instead of trying for 8.

Seniors, I'm gonna miss you and really hope you'll keep in touch.

Brett, what can I say? There are not words...

All 9 of you, you all make me very proud and I love you all very much. Have an awesome summer if there are any of you that I don't see in the next three days.

-Coach

Get well soon, Megan

Parting is sweet sorrow.

I couldn't let the season end without telling you kids how great you were. You really made me proud. I know I whined alot in the beginning about not having a lot of people want to tryout last Spring for this Fall and about how Christine & Jessica couldn't cheer etc. etc. But I couldn't have been luckier to get the 4 we got. Seldom have I cared about 4 kids so much in 13 years of coaching. I'm only sorry if I failed to make you feel valued. It's a shame that football season is only 9 games long, because you really got awesome your last 3 games. Sure, I can wish your knees and backs would've let us stunt, but you got SO good at getting the crowd excited I could hardly believe it.

Rena- Your dedication, your work ethic and drive and your memorized catalog of chants are all incredible. And you're jumps aren't too shabby either. Your greatest strength, your leadership also happens to be your Achilles' Heel (you're such a perfectionist and it's so important to you to have a grip on things and have them the way they're supposed to be- that I think its hard for you to be flexible or not be in the driver's seat.) You've come so far and achieved so much since junior high, can you believe it? Maybe you'll come back next Fall- I know that cheer is in your system like a desease and how important it is to you- or maybe you'll grow out of it and move on to other things. Either way, hold on to the good memories and the important lessons that cheer has given you.

Sasha- Especially for someone who didn't want to come out at first, you have become one awesome cheerleader, girl. Louder, sharper, sure of yourself. I bet that if Rena had graduated already or hadn't come out this season, you would've stepped up to become a real leader. You're creative, you take initiative and you know how to get CRAZY girl! Don't become all of those negative cheerleading stereotypes, don't be snippy or gossipy or power-hungry or popular. Stay positive and upbeat, outgoing and funny and you will go far. If you tryout for basketball and don't make it, please don't let it be the end of the world or the end of your cheerleading career- tryout again next fall. You're too talented and have too much school spirit to turn negative. If you go out and DO make it, don't get a big head and don't get bossy or snotty. Keep working and getting even louder and sharper.

Kensie- WOW! What a difference from the ADHD poster child you were in junior high. I am SO proud of you when I see you teach those 7th graders. You're so funny, and smart and capable of having such a stage presence if you'd let it out, but you either get self-consious or shy or are too afraid of stepping on Rena or Sasha's toes or something because we don't necissarily see the spirit and energy we see at practice at games and we don't necissarily see the leadership and strength that we see when you help at junior high practices at games either. Don't "hide it under a bushell, let your light SHINE and you won't believe how far you'll go! I am SO sorry about your knee- your jumps had been great and you could've benn a terrific flier. You're so much sharper and more coordinated than in junior high. Anytime you're open to helping with Jr Hi, I'll have you- you do such a good job of encouraging them.

Megan- Don't ever fit anyone's stereotype, cheerleader, "Goth" or "Emo" or "Scream-o" or any stereotype. What a stupid mess with all that dumb Chad/Holi crap has been. Don't let Nate lead you on! Sure, I STILL wish you were louder, but I can't believe how far you've come since junior high either. I'm so proud of you. You're really getting good at drawing too! I frankly don't know what to say about you. I probably feel closest to you because you never stop e-mailing me all summer. I hope I've been able to be the ear you needed or to offer the advice you wanted when times have been bumpy. Keep positive (even when your little brother is a pain or when parents are hard to understand) and you will exceed your dreams. Same as I said to Sasha about trying out for basketball Cheer and/or mascot (especially if you have to compete with Brett)- if you make it, don't get complacent or stuck up, keep working at becoming better. If you DON'T make it, for God sake, don't let it be the end of the world, or of your cheerleading career and please don't hate me and hold it against me. Stay positive and (like I told Rena) take the good memories and the lessons that you got from cheer and make them a part of you.

Brett- I guess you'll keep me hanging for at least another week or two to see if this was your last season or if Basketball will be. It really is a shame either way, because you really were phenomenal this season. High energy, careful and patient with kids, creative and silly. College caliber stuff. But more than your performance as Cujo, I'll miss your sanity in the shotgun seat on van rides. It has been great to get to know you and a joy to have someone to talk about theology and complain about the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod with. Good luck in college and life and please don't be a stranger.

If they told me that we could only have 4 cheerleaders and one mascot for the next 4 years and you'd be it- I'd be happy to be stuck with you. Thank your parents for loaning you to me for a few months. I care about each one of you as if you were my godchildren or nieces and nephew. Thank you for a wonderfull season. I'm very proud of you and won't ever forget you.

Love and Prayers,
Coach Mallory

Just in time for Halloween

Gotta love the orange nail polish

So above is a tough girl picture of Rena and Megan...
But below, thanks to a little time in PhotoShop, is a creepy, Halloween-appropriate picture of Rena and Megan "all gothed out," as they call it. They're really not dark, spooky people, but they like music that's a lot louder and depressing than anything I like to listen to. Whatchyagonna do?
Hire me for your next Metal album cover. Happy Halloween.

Jersey Auction

Having fun before the soup-supper. Wow, I have to say that I am REALLY proud. This was the first squad I've had to dress-out AND the first squad to actually perform a chant at the jersey auction! Way to go girls! Loud and PROUD!

Brett auctioned off Cujo's head. Here he is with auctioneer John Scheben. Proud here too. Man, I'm gonna miss this kid. He's great with little kids and he helps me stay sane on drives to away games with all the hair spray, cell phones, make-up and giggles in the van. He's been mascot for 4 years now. Isn't that like 28 in dog years?

Thanks, I needed that

It's not always easy to remain positive, the way cheerleaders are supposed to, but that's why we have cheerleaders- to help us (& each other) to think positive.

Last night I stayed at school to work on finishing the yearbook and to save money on gas, since we had the Spring awards banquet. I was feeling sorry for myself 1) that the yearbook staff had left so much for me to do and 2) that I wouldn't get to see my own kids that night. I thought I'd wait till just before the banquet to go because I'm not very comfortable in social situations, so it's awkward to try to make small-talk any longer than I have to.

Naturally my truck wouldn't start. I looked under the hood aimlessly, as if by looking at something I know nothing about would miraculously solve the problem. We used to have an old car that you sometimes needed to tap on the distributor cap to get it to start. That worked magically every single time you did it. My truck didn't seem to have a distributor cap.

I followed the cables from the battery to the spark plugs. I knew it wasn't the battery because it turned over fine, it just didn't start. I fiddled with the spark plugs, as if maybe that would help just like tapping on the distributor of that old Buick used to. Nothing. The guys at the garage had assured me that the plugs were fine.

There had been two or three mornings when it wouldn't start so I asked them to look when I had had it in for an oil change. They said that the plugs were too new, they had given it a tune up just last year. They said that it started up every time for them, but from my explanation it sounded like a fuel filter or fuel injector.

Trying to get it to start once more so I could make it to the awards banquet, I hoped it was just the fuel filter, not the fuel pump or the injector. I had bought a bottle of fuel injector cleaner the last time I got gas, I put it in the tank and followed it up with some unleaded that I had in the gas can that I keep in the back for the lawn mower. Nothing. The next day my farmer-in-law reminded me that if it were a fuel filter it would start to cut out whenever I'd try to accelerate. Never had, just didn't want to start.

I tried again. Nothing. I looked under the hood again, still not knowing what to look for. I wanted to find the choke. That always works, I told myself. Of course I had no idea where the choke was- somewhere below the steering column down by this side of where the throttle is inside I reasoned. No, nope. Hmmm, is it on top of the engine block somewhere? Oh, who was I kidding? Even if I knew where it was, there's always two guys whenever guys pull that trick. One inside to gun the gas and another under the hood to pull on the choke.

Dang, why didn't I take Engines or Auto Shop in high school? Noooo, I had to take stupid Drafting. Like I ever use that? When was the last time I ever drew a 3-D schematic for some machine-tooled part? Dumb guidance counselor.

Finally I called my wife to ask for a ride after the banquet. The next day, if he'd gotten his crop in, I'm sure my beloved farmer-in-law and/or his mechanic neighbor could come look at it and at least help me get it to the guys at the garage. I started walking to the banquet.

I was relieved that I hadn't missed the meal. I was the very last person in line behind all the parents. I took the very last seat at the coachs and teacher's table. I don't know if I'm losing my hearing or if it was just the din of the crowd, but I had a tough time hearing any of the conversations at the table, which made polite small talk even harder.

Plenty of chummy humor between the Athletic Director who Emceed and the other ball-sport coached, who were sitting on the opposite end of our two or three tables. I never really fit in with all the jocks when I was in school either. At least the sports editors on the school paper were pretty nice to me. Maybe that's why I work so hard to actually coach and not just be one of those lazy sponsors who never even attends any games with their cheer squads. Maybe I'm overcompensating or trying to prove something to somebody. Whatever.

Yadda yadda yadda, scholarships, music, band, science, blah blah blah, etc. etc. Not that that's bad, all the presenters were great, all the kids deserve recognition, it's just that no one ever enjoys these things do they? I don't even like the Oscars that much. At least at the Country music awards you get to hear bands play. Dang it, Coach, why do you make me second to last? I just want to get it over with. I'll never be able to say anything as clever and insider as you football, basketball, baseball and golf guys... okay here we go.

Geez, how come I have no trouble at all talking in front of people all day long, but this freaks me out? Maybe because that's 10-20 kids at a time in a classroom and this is more than half the kids in school, plus most of my colleagues and administrators, plus all those kids parents all at once.

So I get it done. I feel bad because I fell like I made it sound like I didn't appreciate or don't like the football cheerleaders, but at the same time I don't feel like I did a good enough job of letting the basketball cheerleaders know how much I appreciated them or what an outstanding job they did. But, I didn't stutter or get any name wrong and I was brief- which is what most people want anyway. And when I got back to my table the History and Science teachers said they liked my joke, although they were the only two who got it.

Needless to say, it had been a rough night. I walked back to school Bethany wasn't there to pick me up yet, but there were post-it notes all over my windshield. I don't know if it was all three or just two of the eighth-graders who will be freshman cheerleaders next year- but they'd been to Adventureland with the junior high music kids. And they did what cheerleaders are supposed to do, even on the last day of school. They gave me a lift and reminded me to be positive.

8th graders Sasha & Megan at Dance Night, last Saturday

three wierdos

Eighth Graders Megan, Sasha, and Christine prove how psycho they can be.
Maybe we should actually practice sometime this week!

2004-05 (off-season)

Junior High off-season Cheer, Spring 2005:
Beth (8), Billie (8), Meg (7),
Kassie (8), NIki (7), Sasha (7), and Kim (7).
Mallory