Why has everything become so competitive? It’s one thing when it’s separate schools competing in the same sport. It’s another when it is the same school, but with separate sports. This year, the high school has strived to be an amazing representation of how poms and cheerleading can work together to increase their skills and show unity throughout the school. Both groups are different in many ways, but have the same motives: showing school spirit with dramatic motions and bright smiles. Of course, there’s so much more to both activities, but the two groups have more in common than differences.
It starts with the heart, otherwise known as the coaches. This year, the poms team got a new set of coaches, including the high school counselor, Jennifer Byers, and the counselor’s secretary, Bianca Turner. The football cheer coach is Emily Palmer, who has been coaching for eight years. Palmer is the school nurse as well. Conveniently, their offices are right across the hall from each other, making communication easy when needed. Both team coaches have been collaborating to make this season one for the books.
An example of how the poms and cheer teams are working together is the classic “Go, Fight, Win!” chant that always seems to have the student section jumping with excitement. Both teams interlink arms, facing the crowd filled with school spirit, leaning forward and back when chanting, while the stands do their part of the chant. Another way these hardworking teams are helping one another out is by sharing the school fight song, known as “Onward Marion.” The cheer team proudly stands by this cheer, and when asked if they would be interested in teaching their motions to “Onward” for poms tryouts, of course, it was a yes. Little adjustments were made to suit the dance style, but the foundation is solid and incredibly clean when both teams perform next to one another. They both find the unity new and exciting. Isobel Peterson, sophomore, has been on the poms team for two years now. “This year it’s definitely been way more unified, and I like having that connection, especially because a lot of us have friends on the cheer team and cheer has friends on the dance team.”
Furthermore, both teams have a lot of similarities. The simple identical components, such as going off an eight count, using cute pom poms, and sharing the sidelines. Underneath the beauty and nonstop pictures, there is so much more to both cheer and poms. The non-stop push to be perfect, the hair, the motions, and the idea that there are family members who have a front row seat and are proudly wearing a button with their daughter’s face on it. Both teams experience the feeling, and wouldn’t want it any other way. The adrenaline rush of “Friday Night Lights” on the sidelines is something everyone wishes to experience. Some could argue that one team is stealing the other’s light, but realistically, there’s plenty of room on the track to share. Mady Fentress, senior, has also been on the cheer team for two years. “When we come together, having such a big team and having more parents and students that have familiar faces, that’s a really cool thing, and it doesn’t have to just be the 12 cheerleaders! That’s a really cool way to just represent the school, too,” she said. A good competition of who did it better is thrilling, but the unity and unwavering support that the cheerleading and poms teams have for one another is something that will forever be valued.
Adding on, stereotypes are often used, but are far from the truth. Just because one dances or cheers doesn’t mean there is an adamantly dumb, mean, blonde with no future plan. Newsflash, real life isn’t like the movies. These girls are hard-working, smart, and kind, even when the world is mean. Not to mention the constant closed-minded reminder that neither are sports, both sets of girls struggle with these outdated stereotypes that are hurtful and not true.
Hence, thanks to selfless coaches, open-hearted girls, and a whole lot of red and gold, this football season just got so much better!
