On Feb. 10, during the varsity girls basketball game, the cheerleaders put on their annual cheer clinic, teaching elementary school kids cheers and a dance routine to perform in front of their community. 

The cheerleaders taught the kids cheers called “Red, White, Let’s Fight” and “Go Big Red.” They also taught the kids a dance to the song “Sugar” by Maroon 5. 

“It takes patience,” junior Julia Zoglmann said. “I liked it because I want to be a teacher, so it was fun to teach them the dances.”

Sometimes the kids don’t listen, and they can be rowdy, junior Mya Scott said.

“It was alright; they were very difficult to deal with, especially after the school day, but at the end of the day I had fun, and I enjoyed seeing them have fun,” Scott said.

One thing the cheerleaders did differently this year was break up the practices into two different days. One day was to teach the younger kids, and the other day was to teach the older kids. 

Some cheerleaders said they thought this decision was beneficial.

“[I think it’s better to split the days up because] it was more organized,” sophomore Lacey Kelly said. 

Some cheerleaders said they liked the old way better. With all the kids on the same day, they were able to have two days of practice. 

“I think it’s better to do everyone on the same day,” Scott said. “Little kids don’t retain information that much, and they had difficulties remembering the dance.”

The kids seem to enjoy hanging out with high schoolers.

“I think the kids like being involved with high schoolers, and if they want to be a cheerleader in high school, it can prepare them,” Zoglmann said.