Starting in August, the cheering squad of Lopez High School practices four times a week, for two hours at a time, preparing not only for football season, but basketball as well.
What makes these young people’s efforts so impressive is the fact that, because the community is so small and because there are so many extracurricular activities to participate in, the young women can and do partake in several seemingly conflicted activities. And this year, because it just made sense, the school allowed all grades to participate in cheerleading.
Stephanie Fowler, head coach of the Lopez High School Cheering Squad, is effusive in her praise of the young women.
“Last year, there were only three girls who were cheering, so the administration decided to open it up to all levels, to foster school spirit and show school pride in what is a very small and local school. If there is a time out, we do cheers to music and dancing to music and we also set up a call and response between the cheerleaders and the crowd. The squad also does cheers repetitively so that the crowd will join in. The squad, currently, is learning and incorporating some stunts, but we have to have high participation for that to occur. Some girls, one senior, who has experience and has provided leadership as a role-model, is very important to the younger group. It’s very intimidating for the young girls who are cheering at these high school games because the intensity between high school and middle school cheering is very different, but when all the different grades are together … high school, middle school, and so forth … the girls really worked hard to get along and make raising school spirit their number one priority. Like the sports teams, they have huge loads of schoolwork and extracurricular activities that, to do the cheerleading as well, is really phenomenal.”
Larissa Berg, a senior, leads up the squad as the oldest and one with the most experience. The freshmen on the squad are Alexa Ogden, Sarah Stanley, and Marina Steinbrueck. Representing eighth grade are Eryn Dye, Katie Ogston, Samantha Swanson, and Marne Cook, and in sixth grade and youngest on the squad is Shelby Pruitt.
“Shelby has never been a cheerleader, and she has really stepped up to the plate,” said Fowler. “She has a lot of fun with it and works right alongside the older girls. They bond really well. At first I was a little worried that the grades wouldn’t gel, but going into the season, the girls took their jobs seriously first and foremost as cheerleaders, and everything else was not an issue. I am honored to be their coach. Their ability to get along and work together has just made me very proud. Also we have several students who help us out by being the mascot, but the names are kept secret as part of a Lopez tradition. These youngsters do a great job, dancing and keeping the spirit up of the Lopez Lobos.”
The young cheerleading squad is also interested in stretching their horizons. In July 2009 for one week at Central Washington University, and sponsored by the National Cheerleading Association of America (NCAA), the Lopez cheerleaders will attend to learn leadership skills as well as cheerleading routines.
“We raise money by providing concessions for the games and that money will go towards summer camp and next year’s uniforms. Also, I am in charge of honoring the flag and doing all announcements for the games, and setting up musicians to sing to honor the flag.”
The cheerleading squad supports the school and the school’s clubs in any way they can, by creating posters, helping with fundraising, but most importantly, by cheering their teams on. You can see the Lopez cheerleading squad at all home games this basketball season for both junior varsity and varsity games. Come out and support the Lopez Lobos!
