The cheerleaders, lead by coach Abbey Sherwood, ’97, were impressed by the routines the other squads preformed at their first competition at Great America on Oct.7. This years’ squad went with an attitude of gaining experience for the young squad.

The cheerleaders have attended the United Spirit Association’s cheerleaders competition five times where on an average 10 squads compete in the performance cheer division.

“This was a great learning experience for cheer despite not gaining a bid in the national competition,” Eunie McEntee said. McEntee previously advised the cheer squad. “This competition gives the new girls a lot of exposure to other teams and the quality of performance.”

However, this is the first time cheer has gone to a competition this early in the school year. Previously, the squad has placed in the top three, four out of five times. Senior returnees consisted of Rebekah Snow, Megan Swanson and newcomer Kim Zurisk.

My expectations for this year were to have fun and to be united as a squad,” Kim Zurisk, ’02, said. “I feel that we still have a ways to work but we are getting there.”

The squad fell four points short of a bid to nationals; they came up with an 80 out of 100 points.

I feel that we performed well,” Swanson said. “We need to work on the routine, but overall we did our best.”

The current competition squad contains 15 cheerleaders and is relatively small for a squad. An average squad at the competition had 25 girls.

“This is one of the smallest competition squads I have been on,” captain Snow, said. “but we show a lot of potential and I think we have a chance at winning.”

Though none of the stunts fell, the girls were unable to place. Sherwood was unable to attend so McEntee went and her reflection on the routine was positive.

“The girls did an awesome job,” McEntee, said. “There were co-ed squads in our division and there is no way we can compete with that. Our girls did their best and I was very proud of them.”

The cheerleaders have their next competition on Dec. 15 in Tracy.