Loud counts of “five-six-seven-eight!” echo through the practice room of the cheer team. Synchronously, they move together through their stunts and dance routines: back handsprings, toe touches, and pikes. For the past two years, the team has attended many regional competitions, putting continuous hours of dedication into performing and shocking crowds.
From Jan. 25 to 26, the cheer team participated in the JAMZ national cheer competition where, out of 200 teams, they placed in the top five. On both days, they received minor deductions in their routines but were able to recover quickly.
Sophomore and team member Elisa Brembilla was proud of their work at the competition but noted some places they could have improved.
“It went really well,” she said. “All the jumps and the tumbling got cleaner from the first day to the second day. Something we could have improved on was our energy. There were only a few people using facial expressions and having energy in the routines.”
Coach Arianna Denson has coached the team for four years. This season has been a bit difficult for Denson, but she is proud of the supportive community and progress they have made.
“This has been a challenging year because our team is very new to cheerleading,” she said. “I think this has caused our team to progress slower when compared to past seasons. At the same time, it has allowed for a new beginning with a more positive and encouraging team environment. Everyone works hard to build each other up and to prove their commitment to the team.”
Denson has noticed how crucial it is for the team’s dynamic to be strong, as it can affect their performance.
“Since there is such a positive team dynamic, it has allowed our athletes to (collaborate better with each other),” she said. “When a team can work well together, it shows in their performances. The routines are cleaner, sharper, and more synchronized overall. They move and work more as a unit rather than as individuals.”
As a freshman, co-captain junior Lauren Murakami joined because she was looking for a way to build her community.
“I knew that Gunn was a very academically rigorous and high-pressure school,” she said. “I wanted to show to people that you can still have spirit and have fun (here). Cheer is such a fun sport and it’s so much hard work, but you also have a super rewarding experience of encouraging other people.”
Cheer requires a lot of effort and hard work, but Denson does not think people recognize that.
“We are often not taken seriously as a sport, which is quite disappointing,” she said. “Cheering on the sidelines is one aspect of our cheer team. We are involved in the community, fundraising, practicing, and preparing for our own competitions. These are vigorous practices that are mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing on a student-athlete.”
Even though cheer requires a lot of mental strength, physical strength, and can be difficult, Murakami is grateful for the team.
“Our team communicates really well,” she said. “I can proudly say that every person on cheer is a friend of mine. I feel like this year, we are a very tight-knit community, which is great, especially for the freshmen on the team who were looking for a community.”
