The Miami High Role Models
The Miami High cheer leading team at their first football game of the season.
All athletes face challenges and loopholes along the way, whether it’s overcoming their fears or getting good grades to be able to participate on their team. Cheerleaders are no different.
The Miami High Varsity Cheerleading team is constantly facing these challenges and has a lot of pressure on them to improve their skills every school year. “The biggest challenge you face as a cheerleader is working together as a team,” said one of the triplets in the squad, Lucia Martinez. “Things can get hard and difficult sometimes, especially when you can’t agree on something.”
Some other obstacles can be learning how to do stunts, which are performances that reveal a cheerleader’s skill or dexterity. Sophomore cheerleader Johanna Lopez remarked that learning to be a base for her stunt group was not as easy as she thought it would be.
Being a cheerleader is also very costly. Pay-to-play means participating in a public school-hosted extracurricular activity that depends on a child’s ability to pay for it. “You have to dedicate a lot of time and money to be part of the team,” said sophomore cheerleader Johanna Lopez. In order words, to be cheerleading, you pay for many things such as the bags, socks, bows, shoes, one practice uniform, and one skort uniform. The 5 performance uniforms, however, are lent to you by the advisor.
Just like every dancer, cheerleaders have to remember routines, as well as cheers and chants. SGA officer and cheerleader Enrriet Leiva said, “Doing a dance in front of hundreds of people can make us nervous, and if we mess up, we can’t make it obvious. You have to finish what you started and act like nothing happened because they won’t know if you’re doing the wrong or right moves.”
Just like everyone else, cheerleaders also get insulted, but because they are visible around the school, criticism is constant. Freshman cheerleader Jazmin Mojica said, “It does not bother me to be called names because they don’t know me and they only judge me based on the fact that I’m a cheerleader.”
“Not everyone is going to have a positive mindset about the team and not everyone has been in a cheerleader’s shoes,” said junior cheerleader Lorena Martinez. “The best thing we can do is use all the criticism to better ourselves as a team and human beings.”
On the other hand, there are many things that cheerleaders like about their sport. “My favorite thing has to be being a flyer. When I was first told I was going to be on top, you can’t imagine the fear that went over me,” said junior Karina Castillo. “It’s an amazing feeling, but no matter what, I’ll still be scared.” Other teammates mentioned that they enjoy performing and dancing.
One question is whether Miami High’s cheerleaders will go back to competitions. Sophomore varsity cheerleader Nestor Zuniga would like to because that way the team would get recognition, and when someone says, “You don’t even compete,” they could show off their trophies and prove others wrong. Other teammates, however, think that the group is not ready to go to competitions because half of the team is new to cheerleading this year and they’re not experienced enough to compete.
Each year’s team can get better than the previous year’s team. Sophomore varsity cheerleader Enrriet Leiva wants the team to improve their communication skill because when it lacks, the squad either argues or does not understand each other.
Junior cheerleader Lucia Martinez said, “We should improve the interest in cheer. We’re all tired because of school and the different issues in it private life, but in the end we should put our effort in no matter the circumstances.”
Our school has cheerleading tryouts every beginning and ending of a school year. JV try-outs are in the beginning; varsity try-outs are towards the end. Many students who want to become a cheerleader always wonder what is needed in order to make the team. Senior Monica Bravo said that when you try out, you have to be on your A-game and have a positive attitude.
“They have to give their 100%, plus more. Facials such as blowing kisses and smiling while doing a cheer or chant are also a big thing,” said cheerleader Karina Castillo. “Respect and a good image play an important role in how you present yourself as well.”
