Fun and nerves describe new cheer squad

This archived article was written by: Alexis Hill

Utah State University Eastern 2017-2018 cheerleaders started their season at the soccer and volleyball games this past week. This year the team is filled with multi-sport athletes, including soccer players.
“Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun, but we all had a lot of nerves. It was a good time and had a lot of good energy around us,” Allie Sitterud said.
Meagen Mower cheers for Utah State University Eastern for the past two years and previously cheered for 15 years. She says cheer to her means meeting new people and always being there to cheer on your team, and picking up teammates and pushing them when you feel like you are at your weakest point.
Sylvie Call, a freshman says cheer has benefited her in more than one way. “Relationships are important to me and being a part of this team means so much to me. You bond in different ways and gain lifelong friendships, it also gets you involved in the school. I love being social,Call said.
Cheer may seem and look easy however, it isn’t the easiest after-school activity. Cheer includes many practices, attending a lot of games and school events. Not only has it kept the men and women in shape physically, but mentally, as well.
Cheerleaders continuously challenge themselves and the crowd to get loud and hype the team to win the game. They test themselves by having to memorize cheers, dances and learn halftime routines.
Learning the routine is hard work: these ladies learn to tumble, to jump, do sharp motions, to dance and do stunts which involves tossing women in the air and catching them. Always a crowd favorite is the basket tosses the squad throws each game
Kori Jorgenson is a flyer on the cheer team. Jorgenson says that this is her first year cheering ever and has learned much from it.
“The cheer team isn’t given enough credit for all the hard work they put into it. It isn’t a simple activity and comes with sweat and a ton of pain,” she exclaims.
The team’s coach Kelley Bosone who is starting her second year at the helm. They practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. The cheer team says they have lots to work on and have room for improvement, however it is all uphill from here.