On October 23, I changed from a regular 7th grader to a 7th grade cheerleader. Number 11 was the number I tried out with and it was the number that was listed on the team sheet. I’d made the team.

Making the cheer team made me so energetic. I was in a great mood for that whole week. Nothing could bring me down.

I decided to try out for the cheer team because my friend actually prompted me to try out with her, so she didn’t have to try out by herself. Cheer is also somewhat similar to dance, but since the school doesn’t actually have a dance activity, cheer is the closest thing to it.

The first person I told that I made the cheer team was my mom, because she kept telling me that I would make it with my “talent”, and surprisingly, I did.

My favorite thing about the cheer team are my teammates actually. They’re very supportive and I always count on them to help me out with things I don’t get. Mrs. Liastro and Mrs. DUffy are great captains of the team and this year Ms. Szoke adds a nice touch of flair to the team coaches.

Five seventh graders that made the team are Caroline Ruiz, Caitlin McNish, Gianna Orten, Ximena Gonzalez, and we have one of our eighth grade captains Alexis (Lexi) Lyczkowski.

Caroline tried out for cheer, even though she’s already on the Golden Saints competition team. She decided to try out “because I’ve done cheerleading for three years and I’d feel like it’ll (WMS cheer team) be a nice change from stunting and competition.”

McNish’s favorite thing about the cheer team is the team itself. “The people. They’re always so nice. I think we make a great squad together.” She tried out because “cheer is similar to dance” and she “might not get to do dance this year”, even though she loves it.

When Gianna made the team she felt “happy” and “excited” because “I always wanted to be a cheerleader for a basketball team or any team.” After being asked why she tried out, Gianna responded with, “(Because) my friends were going to do it and I wanted to also. Plus, I want to be a cheerleader in high school so this is practice for me.”

Ximena Gonzalez made the team and she was “really happy and excited because I really wanted to be a part of an extracurricular activity. Plus Mrs. Duffy and Mrs. Liastro are really nice.” Ximena tried out for two reasons: “My friend wanted me to try out with her, and I just wanted to do something and it’s really fun.” Ximena’s favorite thing about the team is “that everyone’s just nice and there for you. And Mrs. DUffy and Mrs. Liastro are there to help if you need help or anything.”

Lexi is one of the captains of the team along with two other eighth grade captains, Rachael Malltell and Gia Benicaso. Lexi shares her thoughts on being captain. “Being captain is kind of nerve-wracking, but also hard because some girls don’t cooperate with others at times, and some listen while others don’t.”

Lexi tried out because “me and my friends were talking about it and I wanted to try out for something, but I’m not into sports, so I tried for cheer.” Lexi is also on the Golden Saints team along with Ruiz. When she made the team, she was “excited” because “my grandfather had just passed away, so it would be good for me to be on a team with other people.”

Overall, the cheer team isn’t your average stereotypical cheerleaders. We’re not the ones that walk around, acting like we don’t know anything. The rude ones that you see in high school movies that act like they’re the queen bees of the school. We care. We represent WMS at every game. We represent the cheer team all the time, and I’m proud of that. I really hope I make the cheer team next year!