By: Grace Ehlinger [Ads Editor]

Seeing the cheerleaders right on the sidelines at sporting events is something almost every student who attends games is familiar with. They stand in front of the crowd and chant their encouraging cheers, but hardly anyone in the crowd knows what they do to get there.

The try-outs for Marion cheerleading are being held tomorrow afternoon, and there are several returning cheerleaders as well as some new ones who haven’t tried out before. Haley Clifton, sophomore, is going to be one of the newer faces at the cheer try-outs. Haley decided to try cheer because “I thought it would be fun, and it was like now or never,” she explained. Haley decided that if she wanted to join cheer at some point, her junior year would be a better place to start than her senior year, so she’s not putting it off any longer.

Haley will be trying out for either basketball or wrestling, and she’s really looking forward to the opportunity. “I’m excited. Learning all the new stuff was overwhelming on the first day, but I’m excited. It’ll be fun,” she said enthusiastically. The try-out process isn’t going to be easy, though. “You have to learn two chants, Onward and a longer cheer. You have to do three jumps consecutively,” she said.

What Haley is most excited for if she makes it, is “the new experiences, and hanging out with friends.” In addition to soccer, this will be a fun activity for Haley to participate in.

After tomorrow’s try-outs, there will be several students waiting anxiously to hear the results. Hopefully Haley has good luck, and everyone will be seeing her cheering for our school next winter.