EDITOR’S NOTE: There is a new date for packet turn in. They are now due Feb. 24. The mandatory parent meeting will also be rescheduled. See Coach Dougherty for more info. 

Five, six, seven, eight.  The music begins, and she can hear the eight count in her head. It has been days of practice and a lifetime of dreams leading up to this point. No matter what happens, she will give it her all and keep a smile on her face. 

Cheer packets are due Feb. 19 for any student who wants to be a member of the 2021-2022 cheerleading team. Tryouts are March 12 in the large gym. 

“All info is located in the tryout packet located in the front office,” cheer Coach Molly Dougherty said. “The application is located inside the tryout packet. The more skills you have, the higher the chance of making the team.”

A mandatory parent meeting is Feb. 24 from 6-7 pm in the PAC. The tryout clinic is March 9-11 from 3:45-5:45 pm in the large gym. The clinic is required for all new and returning cheerleaders. 

“The tryout process is pretty simple,” Dougherty said. “You have three days to learn the material and the 4th day you will try out,” “No skills are needed but definitely are preferred.” 

Senior cheerleaders will be helping prepare the candidates for tryouts. 

“Tryouts consist of a three-day clinic where the girls who are trying out will learn all of the tryout material,” senior Kayla Lyons said. “This usually consists a cheer, a chant and a dance along with three jumps of their choice. It is a little intimidating, but so so fun.”

It is hard for the seniors to realize there will be no more memories under the Friday Night Lights.

“Being on this side of tryouts is a little sad,” Lyons said. “I keep forgetting that I don’t need a tryout packet this year. I loved my time as a WHS cheerleader, and I would redo the entire thing straight from my very first tryout, all over again.”

The clinic and tryouts are open to any high school student whether they have ever been in cheer. 

“I would tell incoming freshmen that are trying out for the cheerleading team to have fun and be confident,” sophomore Jessica Holiday said. “I love cheer because our team is one big family.”

Cheer is more than just tumbling and chanting. It’s about showing school spirit and being a part of a big team spreading school spirit in the halls and around the community. 

“Some advice I would give to the incoming freshman trying out is don’t stop smiling no matter what happens. Keep a smile on your face even if you mess up,” sophomore Katie Leggett said. “I am trying out for cheer again because I really enjoy being a part of our team. I love being able to show how much school spirit we have.”