Senior Night, Friday, October 9

I can not begin to explain how much I'm going to miss these girls. Good luck in college, National Guard, and just plain in life, Ladies. Oh wait, hopefully at least 2/3 will be back for basketball season, but still- I really care about ya and wish it wasn't coming to an end. Thank you for all your hard work over the years. Sometimes you fought like sisters, sometimes you laughed until you had to pee. All the time you lifted school spirit. I mean it when I say that I genuinely thank God for each of the three of you and have been blessed to get to be a part of your lives. I can't believe how much you've all changed in 6 years!

Love-
Coach

Brrrrrrrrr

You're furry- so warm my hands!

It was a LOOOOOONG drive, there were few fans and no visitor stands, Chris was gone to Guard duty and Cammey was with her family in Kansas, and did I mention that it was FREEEZING?! But we still won 34-0!

Kensie was sad that there weren't any pictures of her on the blog yet, so now there is one.- bundled up.

Purty, huh?

Feel like you're special now, Sash?

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

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

Sahsa

Boo! Trick-or-Treat!
Awww... I'm so sad that football cheer season is over. :(

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?

Kensie, just monkeying around

Here they are again

These girls seem to be obsessed with Photoshopping their kissy pictures. I think that it's freaky how Sasha's eyes are still kinda realistic.

Not wierd enough!

Okay, Holli felt that that last picture wasn't crazy enough, so here's another one.

15 minutes of fame

This Andy Warhol- like rendering was requested by Sasha and Megan's pal Holli. That's Holli in the picture with Sasha.

Messin' around 7th hour

Above are Eighth Grade Cheerleaders Sasha and Christine screwing around when they're supposed to be using 7th period as a study hall since it's the off-season.

Below is how crazy they are driving me!

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!

An open letter to Junior High Cheer

An open letter to the Junior High Cheer Squad

Okay ladies,

In the aftermath of the whole Brianna-Tanisha drama I think we need to regroup.

I want to be able to say at least one thing to each of you and I thought that I'd just as well do it this way 1) so I don't forget and 2) because not only do I think it's okay that everyone else know what I say to each of you, it might even be good that they do.

First off, I know this is only JrHi and you may decide that you want to participate in VB, BB, Drill, XC or no sports at all next year, that's your choice, life changes a lot right now- but I'd LOVE to be able to retain each and every one of you- but who knows what parents, schedules (and Varsity Tryouts in the case of 8th graders) will hold. We still should work on being LOUD, being sharp and some other stuff. I have some ideas for how to change practice to do that starting Tuesday. (Don't forget we have another game this Monday)
'Kay, here goes...

Brittany- You have awesome potential, when you're on you're really on, we need to re-teach and review with you and you'd help alot if you can memorize the motion 8-count drill and then work on it on your own all the time.We need to work on your confidence level and your volume. I really hope you stick with cheer and that you like it well enough that you'll work you butt off to stay off the D/F list from now on.

Taryn- You're phenomenal. You're such a natural that it might even make other kids jealous. You're good at this. You're sharp, you can be loud, you have an awesome low pitch. and I bet that you're sturdy and stiff enough to stunt well. I've noticed that you review and practice on your own, you remember chants well enough to be able to teach them, you take initiative by calling chants both at games and you can focus and work durring practice when we need to- all those things are real leadership qualitites. This is why I say, you're good at this. Seriously, if you want to and you apply yourself, you could not only really help our program for the next 5 years, but you're one of the few kids who could probably even get scholarships and cheer in college. We need to challenge you to stay sharp and work hard and not get lazy or complacent. We also need to help you to be a lot louder.

Megan- Girl, you've always been our "Steady-Eddie." Look at pictures of the last 4 seasons and billions of people are in and out because of grades or committment, but you're still there. You're respectful and patient and you'll work when it's time to work instead of screwing around. You know most every chant on our list. That all leads me to believe that Cheer is your thing and you're sticking with it, tryout/parents/grade permitting- if that's so, we need to work on being sharper and getting your energy level up at games. (notice I left you aloan about being louder, but there's that too). I'm serious about you trying mascot whenever you want because everyone else on squad says you're really funny & do a good job- and guess what, you don't have to talk. But we should start working now because all of a sudeden there's competition. Chelsea still wants it, if he ever got his grades up so would Bradley- Brett may want it back and if her parents let her so might Kaylie, not to mention Dan Rose and Mike Wingrove and I have to warn ya, that Kyle Ahart is awesome.

Sasha- You have school spirit oosing out your pores. No one else wears as much purple in as crazy of ways as you do. I wanted you for cheer, I nagged you and finally I got ya. You're fun and funy, you're creative and smart. I like you well enough that if you must leave to play volleyball &/or basketball I'll let you go and try really hard not to nag you more or make you feel too guilty, but if you want to stick with cheer I want to help you get the most out of it and not just take you're talent for granted. Sure you've got leadership up the wazzoo, but we have to work on you not becoming bossy. We also have to make sure you don't just sit and direct 7th graders, but actually work and get the most out of every practice. We need to work on getting you sharper and louder if you're going to make it through Varsity Tryouts. You know everything you need to know, but it doesn't come always come out. We need your fun and your ideas in either Student Council &/or Cheer so we have to keep you positive and we ought to tap into those ideas instead of taking them for granted.

Christine- I am really proud that you're grades/math aptitude are pushing you academically. I'm proud that you're as involved/committed to music as you are even though we really don't have the most exeplary music programs in the world either at the elementary or MS/HS levels. I appreciate your Mom's wanting grades to come first. Be all that as it may, I also admire and appreciate how seriously you took cheer, especially last summer when I sent you a DVD and you taught yourself SO much! I will try to keep you on my email & mailing lists. Don't be afraid of Varsity tryouts, but to be aware that judges do look for high energy, sharpness, and volume- so if/when you have any free time at all, keep working, keep practicing, focus on precision. Know chants well enough to teach them.

Kenzie- I'm so sorry about your back. I've had lots of cheerleaders over the years with scoliosis and other back issues. In lots of ways cheer can aggrivate it, but it lots of ways cheer was easier for those girls than other sports. I would LOVE for you to still be able to come to practice even if you can't work as hard as everyone else & have to take it & even if you're not able or allowed to cheer at games (there's only 2-3 left anyway.) I know you're the type who likes VB, BB, & Track but you did a great job last year and did pretty good this year too (when you rememberd the chants and weren't dealing with back pain).

All of you- Please keep in mind & encourage 6th graders you know who would be good. Please don't be mean or rude to Brianna on purpose, please don't trash talk her or Tanisha/Caitlin/Kelsey. Please let Tanisha/Caitlin/Kelsey feel like they'll be welcomed back as Eighth graders- so long as they can handle being mature enough to be more responsible and focus and not fight or get so into drama. IF (big if) Jessica or someone else wants to practice durring Track season, please stay positive and work at being able to cooperate and get along with others (there will ALWAYS be SOMEONE like Brianna- that's just the way life is.) and Finally- Please keep in mind the Morningside University Mustang Cheer Clinic this summer. It's just one day and just $25- $35 if you want a t-shirt, it's usually in July. It will make you all a ton better and will be a lot of fun.

I guess that's it. Tuesday we have a lot to talk about. I'll see you then if I don't see you for at least part of the game Monday. Thank you each for working so hard, taking Cheer so serious and sticking with it as long as you have.

I'm proud of you,
Coach

Junior High Winter Cheer

Back row: Eighth Graders Christine, Kenzie, Sasha and Megan
Front: Kelsey, Taryn (as the Bulldog), and Caitlin.
We've been working on chants and sidelines, when we get back from Chrsitmas vacation we'll start more work on conditioning, building stunts and hopefully floor cheers. We are the future!

Kenzie and Christine LOVE Sasha SO much, they're willing to embarass themselves.

Some Junior High Pics too

Top: Larissa, Billie and Andrea joined Junior High-ers Megan and Christine one day at practice 7th hour.

Middle: Sometimes/Sort-of Junior High Cheerleaders Sasha and Jessica seem to think they're glam enough to be on some band's album cover...

Bottom: Happy birthday Jessica! Her family got her a new digital camera.

Sasha didn't want me to take this picture, but I just love how much school spirit she has- I mean LOOK at that thing on her head! Crazy!

Sasha has too much spirit. She can't wait till volleyball season is over so she can come out for cheer again.
Mallory

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