Cheer teams hosted their annual junior cheer camp on Sept 5th and 6th. Students K-8 were able to meet the junior varsity and the varsity cheer team and learn from their experiences on the team. K-8 students received extensive tips for completing stunts while others received help for the perfection of a specific stunt.
Because of the influx of K-8 students, current cheerleaders were able to demonstrate their growth from past years and how they’ve improved their skills. Bonds made during the camp were shared among the various cheerleaders and helped improve their motivation for the current school year and upcoming competitions.
“[One of the] memories I made at junior cheer camp was when one girl told me [that she] became more confident [because of] our encouragement,” backspot junior Kylie Tan said. “Someone that is determined and hardworking [like that] could always make the cheer team.”
Some of the skills learned at cheer camp such as the 360 helped mentees practice some stunts that they would perform as a part of the cheer team.
“[For these] stunts, we showed them how to do it [and then] helped them do it themselves,” flyer sophomore Akemi Ike said. “This was [so they] could clearly understand how to do it without [flaw].
In addition to the younger students meeting the high schoolers as mentors, some mentees learned how to rally properly and how to encourage others to the best of their abilities. The junior cheerleaders also had the opportunity to perform alongside the varsity cheer team at a football game.
“I taught them how to say ‘Go Walnut!’ and shake their poms. It [made me] feel proud because it was like teaching a younger version of myself,” Tan said.
