TJ cheerleaders get their moves together for the upcoming year.
Photo by Suprina Williams
The Lady Spartan cheerleading team made its comeback at the first football game of the year for TJ on September 3rd, 2010 at Jeffco stadium; they are hoping all other cheerleading squads will recognize them as a major threat this year.
These ladies have been known to get the job done, and efficiently, but this year they plan to elevate their game and dominate in the cheer world. As the girls prepared over the summer, they adopted a new outlook. Last year the girls practiced, but this year it’s obvious that the squad has developed a hunger for wanting to put in the work to be the best they can be. These dedicated young ladies can be found Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 practicing away, or Mondays at 3:00 tumbling their way to the top.
In addition to the sports games, the cheer squad will be spreading TJ spirit at the DPS cheer competition, and regionals will be on their agenda, as well. They have high hopes of walking away with good rankings. “We are gonna be good; we’re learning to do flips and stuff so for home coming. We are gonna be good. We’ve had some down falls, but as a team we are recovering,” says Senior and first year Cheerleader Antonette Dejean.
As the ladies get ready for the much anticipated season, Coach Wauneta Vann says, “This year feels like a fresh start. They are an amazing group of young ladies. We will finally start to see the fruits of turning this program around.”
Vann feels it will be hard work to make such a big turn around, but she says these fierce ladies are up for the challenge. “Cheerleading is harder than you think, but it is also as fun as you think,” says Cheerleader Sasha Bruce.
There are many steps to becoming a cheerleader, but the most important is making sure the academics are taken care of and a Dean must approve a student with good behavior. After the preliminary steps, the student must attend a four day tryout clinic to learn and practice the audition routine, while getting to know the coach, fellow team members and the rules. Once the tryout clinic is completed, and the decision has been made to join the team, one may tryout officially. Once one passes, then commitment to attend summer cheer camps is required, and learning all the routines, as well. The approximate price for the program per student is projected at a low $1,000. Everyone is encouraged to tryout, guys included. There are many benefits of cheerleading, including but not limited to college scholarships. If you are interested, get ready because it’s starting over this February!
