Once a year, on a fall Friday night football game, a campus tradition occurs at halftime. Young cheerleders perform their routines after a week of practice.

Both the varsity and junior varsity cheer squads instruct kindergarten through sixth grade girls in a cheer clinic, preparing them to cheer for the home squad against Fowler. The girls will practice from 3-4:30 P.M., in the Peoples Church gym on Sept. 26-28.

?The clinic has been a tradition for 20 something years,? Katie Mendenhall, cheer coach, said. ?Even if cheer is not in their future, the clinic is a good way to teach showmanship and teamwork.?

The clinic will cover a sideline cheer and dance, which will be performed during the varsity football game against the Redcats at halftime on Sept 29.

?It?s really awesome being with the kids and have them come up to you later in the year calling your name,? Brittany Motte, ?07, said. ?The little girls run up to you with huge smiles, squeezing you as hard as they can.?

The girls rotate daily between five stations: stunts, the big cheer, sideline cheers, fun cheers and dance.

?My favorite station is stunts,? Mackenzie Devereaux, ?15, said. ?They are fun.?

The camp entry fee is for girls already enrolled in cheer, as an elective is $15 and $35 for other girls. Money raised at the clinic will go towards uniforms the girls will wear at their final routine.

?I am looking forward to helping out at the clinic,? Alyssa Powell, ?10, said. ?Since the varsity squad runs the stations, I will lead a group of young girls to each station throughout the week.?

After the clinic, the cheer squad plans to run a fashion show on Nov. 4 to raise funds for their upcoming Nationals competition in Orlando, Florida, January 2007.

?This is the first year for the show,? Taryn Brown, ?08, said. ?Some cheerleaders will model, while others serve refreshments. We hope that it will be a success.?