Looking back on her four-year career with the cheer team, senior Lucia Rodriguez is filled with positive memories.

“The highlight has always been meeting the new girls who join the team. I have met the most wonderful people through the sport including some of my best friends who have graduated already. Another thing would be the challenges in this sport. It has pushed me to try new things and build my teamwork with the girls,” Rodriguez said.

Her final season has had its fair share of highs and lows, but Rodriguez has enjoyed working on new stunts.

“Trying new skills has always been the biggest challenge so far because if one girl on the team is not giving 100% things don’t usually go the way it’s supposed to,” Rodriguez said.

This season, however, there have been numerous times when the team has been able to leave practice early because they done such “amazing” work, Rodriguez explained.

“I believe that we all work great together because our bond with each other is like a sisters’ bond. I couldn’t have asked for better girls in the team,” she said.

As Rodriguez leaves the mat at the end of this season, she cannot help but be filled with emotion.

“No matter how hard everything got during practice or a competition I am proud to have been on Varsity each season and to have gone through each year with my coach and teammates. Beth, my coach, has taught me a lot each year, and it’s pretty sad that this is my last year with the team. I love cheer and each season has strengthened my commitment to the team,” Rodriguez said.

Freshman Brandy Stirgus kicked off her cheer, and high school career this season. Although new to the sport, Stirgus quickly found her passion.

“I love cheer. It makes my day,” Stirgus said.

The competitive season was filled with adversity, however, as she was injured halfway through the season, and had to sit out several competitions. She was still able to cheer on her teammates, however, and the return to the mat was a triumphant one.

For Stirgus, “the highs [of the season] would be making state,” as the team recently competed at the ICCA state tournament.

Cheer is a sport that requires a good deal of practice and “confidence,” Stirgus said.

“We just go for it.”

Junior Izzy Colburn decided to take a new route this season. she previously competed on the WEGO dance team for two years, but wanted to try something different: cheer. The change proved to be successful, and Colburn is now a fixture on the team, in addition to managing the team’s social media accounts.

That said, as Colburn ventured into unfamiliar grounds, it was hard to adjust to the change in environment.

“Coming from a different sport has been one of the biggest challenges for me. Dance and cheer are very different so making that transition was definitely a big adjustment,” Colburn said.

However, Colburn quickly made her mark, and is now one of the Varsity captains.

“This season has definitely been rewarding. We are very close and work super well together. Cheer is definitely a team sport and in order to be successful you need to work together. Even during rough practices we try and keep a smile on our face and if we notice one of our teammates are feeling down we all try our best to cheer them up or be conscious of one another,” Colburn said.

As the cheer season comes to an end, Colburn continues to motivate and encourage her fellow cheerleaders.

“Remember, we made it this far. Just try your best, do your job, and let our success do the rest. Most importantly hold your head high and stay positive,” Colburn said.

Similar to teammate Mitchell, sophomore Avery Unger entered high school with three years of youth cheer under her belt. This seasoned veteran has experienced her share of ups, including last year’s ICCA state competition, and downs, such as mental blocks.

“Mental blocks in tumbling. I got my first mental block in eighth grade and I haven’t been able to tumble the same since,” Unger said.

However, this season has been particularly tough for Unger as she was out with a broken finger. Despite the injury, she was determined and ready to give her all at ICCA state competition, which the team qualified for even after ICCA raised the standards for entry.

“I’m finally able to compete after breaking my finger, so I definitely have some work to do. I think my strategy will just be to practice as much as possible and definitely try to get my tumbling back as soon as I can,” Unger said, prior to the competition.

She also reflected upon the team’s accomplishments this season.

“Definitely one of the highs was both Varsity and JV placing in the top three at Wilmington,” Unger said.

Having a strong team bond is essential in cheer, according to Unger.

“We have had days where we just hang out and that definitely helps with bonding. everyone is really supportive of each other and tries to give constructive criticism where it’s needed, and it makes us a really good team in the long run,” Unger said.

Sophomore Julia Bloss is also no stranger to the competitive and acrobatic nature of cheer, as she danced at the Carol Stream Park District for 12 years, and did gymnastics at Palmer’s Gymnastics in Bloomingdale for 11. Things move quickly on the cheer team, but Bloss enjoys the bonds that she is able to build.

“Getting ready as a team, everyone works together and understands what nerves people are facing, so it’s a chance to bond as a team right before competing,” Bloss said.

The team frequently changes stunt groups and routines, so one of the biggest challenges is staying on top of the constant movement.

“Having to work with everyone. You can’t get used to certain people cause everything is always changing,” Bloss said.

For Bloss, this has been a bittersweet season. Despite the team’s best efforts, there have been times when “everything goes right, but it’s not good.”

The key, moving forward, Bloss said, is confidence and consistency.

Freshman Amelia Hudson is a former gymnast who joined cheer to try a new sport. For her, the best part has been “making new friends.”

That said, the team has gone all out for competitions, and Hudson noted their hard work and effort. The team tries their best, she said, and “works very well together.”

Overall, Hudson describes the season as “fun”, but she has been sidelined due to injury, and unable to practice these past few weeks. She looks forward to her return to the mat.

For freshman Tierney Doyle, cheer means community.

Throughout the season, the seven-year cheer veteran said she has struggled balancing out school work and her injuries. But with the support of her teammates and coaches, she has learned the importance of perseverance.

“For cheer, you really need to work together for timing and stunts, and to stay safe. It’s really easy to with this great group of people. I’m so grateful for Coach Beth and Coach Alison for putting in so much time for us and doing their best to put up with all the craziness they are so sweet and helpful,” Doyle said.

Moving forward, Doyle intends to try her best and stay confident on and off the mat. A little bit of luck does not hurt either, and Doyle mentioned the team can be slightly superstitious.

“We always have to cross our arms right over left and cannot cross our legs during awards,” Doyle said.

Sophomore Ny’Ara Tate has suffered her share of injuries as well, but has remained focused.

For her, the biggest challenge this season has been “getting hurt and having to recover quick cause my team needs me.”

Still, Tate describes this cheer season as one of the best, and noted the team’s undeniable bond.

“We work together [well] and crack jokes out of everything. Lots of laughs,” Tate said.

The coaches have done a great deal, Tate said, in terms of helping the team – which changes every year – improve their skill set and come together.

“They do a lot when it comes to like getting discouraged and stuff,” Tate said, mentioning she wants to tell her coaches “thank you.”

Freshman Piper Kaiser comes to WCCHS’ cheer team with a great deal of experience.

“I have done gymnastics for eight years at the Carol Stream Park District, and I did youth cheer at WEGO and BCA for six years,” Kaiser said, noting that four of those years were through the West Chicago program, and another two at BCA.

Getting used to changing stunt groups was part of the challenge, but Kaiser feels the rotations were worth it in the end.

“When someone messes up we keep going and don’t blame them and we all take accountability for our mistakes,” Kaiser said.

The practices have been difficult, but the hard work paid off.

“Going to state was really fun not just for the competition but for all the experiences along the way,” Kaiser said.

She knows that the team will continue to strengthen their bonds, and looks forward to what they can achieve in the future.

“Work as a team and hope for the best cause that’s all you really can do. And also just enjoy it,” Kaiser said.

Flyer Diana Correa would describe the 2023-24 season as “hard working” and “fun”. This freshman tries to keep a smile on her face, “be loud, be energetic and be confident on hitting stunts.”

Correa believes the cheerleaders compliment each other’s strengths.

“As a team we support each other before we compete. Before we compete, we practice doing fullouts, which are stunts, pyramid, cheer, tumbling, and dance,” Correa said.

While it has been a challenge having to pull positions, Correa is glad to have been part of the team, especially during such an exciting and award-winning season.

“Highs of this season so far is going to ICCA State and spending time with the team. Also, when Varsity got third place at the second competition,” Correa said.

Mackensie Szajda has been cheering for about eight years. Like teammate Rodriguez, Szajda got her start at DCA, but has also cheered for the Carol Stream Panthers and Fusion. Joining the team at WCCHS opened up new doors for this freshman.

“When involved at activities at WEGO, there is such a good community and opportunity to meet new people. Everyone on the cheer team is so welcoming and friendly,” Szajda said.

Szajda, who has been plagued by injuries in the past, remained injury-free this season, but she saw firsthand how some of her teammates were affected by their own medical issues. Still, Szajda cannot help but look back fondly on the past few months.

“Overall, the season has been so exciting, interesting and full of laughs. When I come to practice, I know I’m going to see some of my best friends, and it makes practice so much more fun,” Szajda said.

She cites the team bond as being pivotal to their success.

“The West Chicago Cheer team is just overall amazing there is so many nice people and my teammates are some of the best people I know,” Szajda said.