While most athletes practice a few months out of the school year, the cheer squads devote time year around to practice for sideline cheer at sports games as well as state and national competitions.

Seniors and captains, Sammie Krikorian, Whitney Stipe and Taryn Brown, work together to excite the crowd and cheer on the football and basketball players.

Although all three girls started cheer as freshmen, each was introduced to dancing at an early age.

“My parents put me in gymnastics when I was three years old,” Brown said. “I used to enjoy watching the Olympics and that helped to motivate me to continue.”

Krikorian decided to join due to her older sister, Barbara, ’07, and friends involvement in cheer.

“My friend, Ali (Byrnes, ’07), convinced me to become a cheerleader,” Krikorian said. “I started cheer as a freshman with my sister Barbara, (’07) because I wanted to do more activities with her.”

Coach Katie Mendenhall has coached these three girls since the beginning of their cheer careers.

“I like coaching these girls, because of the relationship I have with each one of them outside of cheer,” Mendenhall said. “I have had the privilege of knowing them as people, not just as cheerleaders. Each one of them is special and unique in their own way. Taryn has amazing jumps and tumbling abilities. Sammie pushes herself constantly to attain new skills. Whitney is a quiet strong presence on the team.”

Along with sideline cheering at football games, the cheer squads also perform at basketball games. They also competed at a basketball game against Liberty-Madera High, two years ago, in a cheer-off with the opposing team’s squad.

“The game was tied and the crowd started to go wild,” Brown said. “Our squad began a tumble and cheer of with the opposing cheer team. It was fun competing with the other squad to try and see who had the best stunts.”

The varsity squad competes against other school across the nation as a part of the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders.

“I like cheer because it is doing the stuff I love,” Brown said. “The competitions are really fun; we get to go out and show everyone what we have been working on.”

With an increasing pressure to perform more stunts during routine, cheerleaders must take precaution for potential injuries. Despite these safety measures, Stipe suffered an injury to her wrist.

“It is easy to get hurt in cheer,” Stipe said. “When performing a routine, I do my best to keep others from becoming injured. If one of the flyers is falling, I have to sacrifice myself and try to break the impact of their fall.”

Each girl on the cheer squad devotes many hours a week to learn and perfect her routines, outside of practice.

“On Mondays through Thursdays we go to Break the Barriers to practice our stunts,” Brown said. “Then after practice Russ (Spencer) comes to work with the tumblers.”

From the auditions in March until the end of their season, the squad continues to practice year-round.

“Cheerleading takes up a lot of time,” Krikorian said. “It goes year around and it never stops. Even in the summer we have some practices. I would love to do other sports, but I am committed to cheer.”

While not competing, Brown struggles to balance cheer practices, schoolwork and her job at Jamba Juice.

“Time management is my biggest challenge this year,” Brown said. “As a senior in high school I have many difficult classes that take up a lot of time, especially my trigonometry class. Also I work at Jamba Juice and I am a trainer for new employees.”

After four years together as members of the cheer squad, the captains have created lasting friendships with many members on the squad.

“All of us captains have been cheering together since freshman year,” Stipe said. “We have learned each other’s personalities and the cheer squad has become like a big family to me.”

Krikorian considers continuing cheer during her college years, after her being a campus cheerleader. She has applied at Fresno State, Pepperdine, San Diego State University and University of Southern California.

Former campus cheerleader Shelby (Wells) Britton, ’95, who pursued her dream job and participated in cheer during college inspires Kirkorian. Currently she cheers professionally for the Denver Broncos.

“I enjoyed the experience as a cheerleader a lot,” Krikorian said. “It is a good way to meet new people and get involved in the school.”

These seniors will lead the squad at the Southern California Classic at Whittier High on Dec. 8. Although the girls placed second last year, they anticipate to take gold.

“I have seen these girls grow into amazing leaders,” Mendenhall said. “They came to me as freshman, who have never cheered before and now they have turned into seasoned performers and respected athletes.”