Spotlights. School spirit. Bows. Blaring music. Emotions. From yelling cheers to running on the field for a routine, a cheer performance is packed with energy – and pressure – as the West Chicago cheer team takes the stage under the Friday night lights.
On Oct. 10, the Wildcats celebrated Senior Night, honoring graduating athletes during their final home game of the season. For the 44 members of the cheer team, it was one more chance to perform under the lights and showcase the teamwork, spirit, and skill that define their fall season.
During halftime of every home game at Memorial Field, the team performs a new routine each week filled with tumbling tricks and stunts suspended high into the air – all to music blasting from the press box. For the 44 athletes, each performance brings a mix of excitement and nerves.
The cheerleaders first gather in the bathroom or locker rooms to get dressed. Inside, they help each other with makeup and hair, then stretch their arms and legs before heading out to the pit. The pit is the deep grassy hole in front of the school. Athletes are expected to meet there fully stretched at 6:30 p.m. Their short warm-up is held in the pit because they wouldn’t have time to roll out a set of nine mats just to warm up for 5–10 minutes. While practicing, they share mixed emotions about the performance that lies ahead but with little time to think, they are packing up and heading to the varsity game, arriving just before kickoff.
“Usually [I feel] pretty excited. A little nervous, but I’m excited for after school because it’s a lot of fun,” junior Tierney Doyle said.
Tierney has been cheering since kindergarten; she is a flyer and has been on Varsity for all her high school years thus far.
Typically, the cheerleaders arrive at 6:45 p.m. to cheer on the football team during warmups and join in for the National Anthem. They can be seen doing stunts, kicks and cheers to hype the crowd before their routine. Both cheering on the sideline and performing at halftime bring the same mix of excitement and exhaustion.
The team stops cheering when there is 1:00 on the clock in the second quarter because they use that time to put their poms away, grab some water and decide if they perform first or if the dance team does. They line up right in front of the field and prepare to run out, usually using this time to uplift each other, review counts and get in their correct line to ensure no one bumps into each other when running to formations.
As they sprint onto the field, emotions are mixed but they are ultimately ready to give a show-stopping performance. How practice went earlier in the week often sets the tone.
“If we practiced a little iffy, then I’m more nervous at school,” senior Avery Unger said.
While performing, there are plenty of smiles – and a few anxious looks – as the cheerleaders focus on hitting every move with precision. The hardest part of performing in front of the crowd is keeping energy up and smiling even if they miss a count or the music messes up, which happens occasionally. In those moments, teammates often talk quietly to each other to keep counts or remind one another to smile.
“If I’m in the air and I’m just hitting a stunt or whatever, it’s really cool to just be up there smiling,” Unger said.
The Wildcat cheerleaders strike their end pose and quickly run off the field to share hugs and high-fives with each other on the sidelines. Once they are off the field they grab their waters and sit in front of the field to watch and cheer on their friends, the dance team.
They enjoy watching the dance team perform because the dancers usually have new routines with different music and sometimes new outfits. Cheerleaders always wear the same uniform, so they find it fun to see that variety.
“I love watching the dance team after we perform because their routines are so in sync and they are always so entertaining to watch,” junior Brandy Stirgus said. She has been on varsity all three years and she bases and backspots.
After exchanging compliments with the dancers, the cheerleaders return to the sidelines and move in front of the student section to lead cheers for the remaining two quarters. Shifting back into cheering can be hard as the game is almost over, but the student section makes sure to keep them on their toes. They make sure to take lots of pictures for their Instagram (@wego.cheer) page during this time.
“The pictures don’t just capture the moment, it also captures the memories,” sophmore and two-year varsity flyer Shamara Oszcro said.
Now that football season has wrapped up and tryouts for competitive cheer concluded earlier today, the team is shifting focus to their winter competition season – trading the stadium lights for gym floors, but bringing the same dedication, teamwork, and spirit that defined their fall Friday nights.
