"Go Titans! Go!”
Learning the basic chants, moves, dances and tumbles, 40 girls in grades K-6 attended a Junior Cheer Clinic hosted by the Traverse City West Senior High School cheerleaders. Sixteen varsity and thirteen junior varsity cheerleaders participated.
The second of two clinics held every school year, the event drew aspiring cheerleaders to the small gym at West Junior High.
Among the five fourth graders on hand, all hope one day to be rooting on their team.
"I just like to cheer,” said Elizabeth Koenig, a homeschool student attending her first clinic.
Emily Long, a fourth grader at Glenn Loomis Elementary School, got into cheerleading because of her friends but stayed because she loves it.
"I like that you get to cheer on your team,” she said.
As they do every session, Junior Cheer Clinic attendees will later join the Titan varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders in leading the crowd at a game. During the fall session, these budding cheerleaders participate during a football game. This time they will cheer during pregame or halftime at a basketball game February 15.
No matter the venue, they get a taste of being a mover and shaker — literally.
"It's a great opportunity to get them out there to know what it's like to be a cheerleader,” said Erin Lord, coach of the Titan varsity cheerleaders. "They will perform all the material they learned.”
Returning clinic participants note that they soon got over their fears of being in the spotlight with a large crowd watching them.
"At first it was scary…” said Lauren Leslie, a Westwoods Elementary School fourth grade student.
Fellow Westwoods fourth grader McKenzie Ankerson, also on her third clinic, added: "I don't mind being in front of people.”
Sometimes this little snippet of cheering captivates a girl and Lord sees her again a few years later — just the sort of scenario she likes. Best case is when a girl takes gymnastics and dance lessons while young, skills that greatly enhance her cheerleading proficiency.
"I actually have had three girls who have come in wearing the T-shirt from 1999 or 2000 and they come in on my team,” said Lord.
Throughout the afternoon, the girls rotated among four stations — tumbling, jumping, dance and cheers — with a stop for a healthy snack built into the schedule. Cheerleaders by the tumbling mats helped girls learn handstands, summersaults, walkovers and cartwheels while others at the dance station taught a complicated routine.
Junior Cheer Clinic attendees learned the actual moves, words or motions that the Titan cheerleaders use in their routines.
"In the beginning they're all quiet and shy but by the end of the day, they're all pumped up, excited for the game,” said Katie Kirkey, a tenth grade student at West.
One goal of the clinic is to show the younger girls that cheerleading is a rigorous and demanding activity that merges dance, gymnastics and athleticism. In the midst of competitive season right now, the Titan cheerleaders take their sport seriously.
Taylor Reiman, a ninth grade student at West Junior High, attended one junior cheer clinic when younger and just started cheerleading this year. From lifts and conditioning to voice inflection and facial expressions, she works to improve her skills every day.
"It's hard work but really fun,” she summarized. "When we practice we do a lot.”