Little Cheerleaders Show Off Their Big Spirit
By Lauren Delka
Hosted by the cheerleaders of Pierce High School, the little kids’ cheer camp started the football season off strong with 109 kids, in grades K-6, from the Pierce Elementary School and Zion Lutheran School participating in learning cheers and a dance in order to pump up the team and crowd at the football game.
“We do little kids cheer camp to let little girls and boys realize just how fun being a cheerleader is and encourage them to do it in high school,” Jada Brummels, a third-year cheerleader and squad leader, states.
The minute the elementary school day ended, the kids, who had signed up excitedly scurried to the gym to be walked up to the high school. During their trip, the littles talked about how thrilled they were to learn and perform for their parents and the football team.
After arriving at the high school, each kid signed the poster that the football team runs through before the game starts. The cheerleaders then sorted the camp participants by grade; some grades were split into numerous groups. Each cheerleader coached a group of roughly 10 kids.
The kids were taught five cheers, a dance, when to “spirit” (showing excitement through cheering and certain actions such as jumping and kicking), and how to jump. These newly learned skills were put to good use during the second quarter and halftime of the game.
Many of the kids expressed how excited they were to be a part of the cheer team for the night; however, some of them had a more nervous and shy approach. The cheerleaders know that this is bound to happen and are willing to go out of their way to make each kid feel comfortable.
“In order to handle a nervous or shy camper, I invite them to talk to me during snack break and give them compliments on their cheering. I also might help them find a parent during the game to make them happy and less nervous,” Brummels expresses.
Although they were rained on in the first quarter, the little cheerleaders came onto the track strong, smiling, and ready to show their spirit for their big debut.
“I hope the girls take away how fun it is to be with your friends and show your pride towards your school,” Payton Montgomery, also a third-year cheerleader and squad leader, added. “I also want this to be a learning experience for them to show and build their confidence.”
This camp was not only memorable for the campers, but also for the cheerleaders, so they can feel satisfaction through the pride of passing on their passion to the younger kids of the community, one cheer at a time.
