The WMS cheerleaders and coaches from the 2023-2024 season talk about how this new season will be different without the 8th graders from last year since they left for high school.
Mrs. Liastro, an 8th grade honors history teacher as well as a cheer coach at WMS explained how it is losing strong cheerleaders from last year, “It’s tough. Last year we had a lot of 8th graders. It’s a big change to lose such a big group. But every year we have a huge turn over and I think the 7th graders last year were really strong. Hopefully they come back and be great leaders for incomers this year.”
Mrs. Douglas, one of the honors language arts teachers and cheer coach at WMS, discussed what she feels losing the cheerleader from last year. Douglas stated that it was “difficult” since they had an amazing squad last year. Though, she’s really excited that returning cheerleaders from last year will come back again.
Aubrey Rubnicky, a WMS cheerleader, explained how she feels sad and will miss the team. She also said, “We were a tight group and we all cheered and had fun together. It also will be very different without them.”
Rebnicky also said that she thinks this year will be different because the girls last year brought so much spirit. to the team and “I feel like it will be very different without them”
When asked about having such a good outcome last year, Liastro said that the team last year had people who actually wanted to be there and put in full effort. Liastro was “lucky” to have a “really great squad” last year.
Iyana Taylor also a WMS cheerleader said that this year will be different without them. She explained how she will use what she learned from them last year. She said, “I’m going to use everybody’s determination and go getterness to make sure that I can make the team again this year. I want to make sure that I get the same opportunity as I did last year, to be on the team again and rock out with my cheer team for my last year!”
Mrs. Liastro stressed in the tryout process that she wants students who are not only good athletes and cheerleaders but good representatives at WMS. Liastro vocalized that students might not be friends outside of cheer but then, during, they come together.
After being asked about connections with past teams, Douglas mentioned, “Each year is very different. I feel like we are very blessed and that we have some amazing kids that try out for cheer. We do connect with them on so many levels. And every year I get more and more excited, because I get to meet even cooler kids. It’s very exciting for me.”
