Three Cheers for Cheer!

JOSEPH NEY-JUN
Staff Writer

Almost every high school has a Cheer team, but AHS nearly did not. Cheer team is one of the many performing arts groups available at AHS and is considered one of our best programs, but it was not in such good shape four years ago. “They were going to cut the Cheer program before I got here,” said Cheer coach Sarah Fong, who took over four years ago. Now the Cheer has its own class and has won competitions against schools in other states. It has changed a lot in the past four years and current seniors of Cheer can attest to it.
Melissa Magaña, Cecilia Rodriguez, and Danielle Parra are the three captains who lead the team. Cheer itself is physically strenuous and requires a great deal of focus and finesse, as well as a love for the sport. Cheer members practice in the mornings, after school, and independently. However, their hard work is often unrecognized. “There are a lot of misconceptions about Cheer; it isn’t all pom-pom waving and jumping around,” Fong said. It requires a great deal of trust to perform.
Last year, Cheer won first place in the international performing arts SHARP Competition. But for Parra, the greatest satisfaction comes from seeing the growth of the Cheer and seeing it stay afloat. This year, they plan to compete in more competitions and continue to work hard and practice hard.