They are the ones who never stop cheering the Raiders on, the ones who smile so hard their cheeks hurt, the ones who make it their job to pep up the crowd. They are the cheerleaders.

Cheerleading requires more than just memorizing countless cheers and dances jumps stunts and tumbling is required too, and some of them have been doing just that for years. Junior varsity cheer captain Shelby Bachmayer has been cheering since she was 10 years old and has mastered the art of managing practice and school work.

“I spend about 10 and a half hours a week in cheer,” Bachmayer said. “I always make sure I have my homework done by doing it in Advocate or in between practices.”

Tryout camp was a four day process last spring which included learning a cheer, dance and getting to show off your best tumbling and jumps.

“I was nervous for tryouts but also really excited,” Bachmayer said. “I was feeling confident stepping onto the mat.”

After tryouts were over, 13 girls were chosen for the JV team. Freshman Chelsea Beard was more than excited to see her name on the list.

“I screamed when I found out,” Beard said. “I was with my boyfriend Jax and I kept looking and I got really nervous and when I saw my number, I jumped up and down. I was in shock.”
For some of the new cheerleaders making the team caused mixed emotions from excitement to sadness.

“Everyone worked so hard, so I felt happy for everyone that made it,” Bachmayer said. “But I couldn’t help but feel sad for those who worked hard and didn’t make it.”

The JV cheer team cheers on Thursdays for either the freshman or JV football team, and they also cheer alongside varsity at pep rallies. But it takes a while to get the hang of cheering in front of crowds. Even if they are small ones.

“At pep rallies, there is obviously more people so it is a little more nerve-racking,” Beard said. “It is also more fun because I could look like a complete idiot and I would be okay. At games there are less people and that makes it a little awkward. I was nervous to cheer at my first JV game, but I got over that because I had a lot of fun cheering with my team.”

Performing at pep rallies and games has helped the team build a family-like atmosphere.

“I know I’m supposed to be here,” Beard said. “I will always have my cheer family to talk to. They make me more excited to cheer.”