Cheer returns to competitive performances

Now more than ever, high school cheer team has practiced and dedicated their time in preparing for another cheer competition. For several years, the HS cheer program has backed off from the competition stage. But this year the team is ready to show off their perfected stunts and excellent tumblers.

Although it has been five years since cheer performed as a team, they are ready to change history for future competitions at FC. Just two years ago, the stunt group on the cheer team performed. This year changes, the team will perform together.

Coach Hope Villines has hope and faith in her team, after all the hard work put in she believes in their abilities.

“I really felt like this team was really strong enough mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally,” Villines said. “I knew that this would be the team to bring competition cheer back to Fresno Christian. They have been preparing this routine since September.”

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Titled Cheer Pep Classic, the competition takes place at Clovis High, Jan. 30. The team performs at 5:00 pm and will warm up at 4:30pm. At this competition, Fresno Christian will compete with Clovis West, Bullard High School, and Sanger High School. Coming up they will perform on Feb. 7 at the CIF Competition against at least 7 other schools.

Up till now the team has consistently practiced since Sept. 2015. From 7:00 am practices to block schedule days, hours of preparation have been put in. Former cheerleaders at FC, Bree Ainley and Cory (Thompson) Johnson assist alongside Coach Hope Villines.

With the long hours of practice, Villines feels confident that the team will perform well.

“I feel pretty confident that they will do well,” Villines said. “I think we are all a little nervous/excited. They have been working really hard on their tumbling, we got some very strong tumblers on the team, and their pyramids and stunts are definitely higher level for high school and they’ve done a great job with them.”

For the months of preparation, cheerleader Sydney Belmont,’17, feels that even during stressful hours of practice her coaches were still very encouraging.

“It was hard getting up in the morning for the early practices,” Belmont said. “The journey has been a lot of fun. We have been helped by multiple great alumni cheerleaders who have had experience in performing. I am kind of nervous but the team, along with the coaches, have done a great job encouraging each other.”

Cheer captain, Maddie Luginbill,’16, feels as though the team has prepared itself well and is ready to perform.

“Our team is definitely ready,” Luginbill said. “We have been practicing for awhile, the team has the routine down we just need to be confident and own it. I am nervous because this is our first competition but I’m definitely excited to see how we perform.”

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