by Carol Keefer, Reporter

The Jim Thorpe Area Senior High School cheerleading tryouts began on Saturday, April 22, 2017. There were more than forty girls signed up to tryout for both the Varsity and Junior Varsity squads. This has put a lot of pressure and nerves and both new members and returning members of the squads.

“Originally, I was excited for this cheer season to begin– a fun, easy season with my friends. But then I saw how many girls had signed up for the tryouts, and it scared me so much that I ended up not trying out at all, for fear of not making it this year when I had in previous years. I was scared of being embarrassed, but I regret not signing up now,” said Sharin Fischer, former Varsity cheerleader.

Even though it has been stressful, the girls continue to stay positive. They say that they have the confidence to try out because they enjoy what they do, and it is worth the risk of losing their spot to someone else if they truly love what they do.

“Being a cheerleader definitely has its payoffs. It’s a fun sport to do with your friends, and being under the lights on Friday nights has such an amazing feeling. It is definitely a bit difficult to get the hang of all of the dances when you first learn them, and the tryouts may be stressful, but it is definitely worth it,” said Stephanie Dykas, Varsity cheerleader.

At the end of the day, only fourteen Varsity cheerleaders are chosen, while only twelve are chosen for Junior Varsity. That means that only twenty-six girls are chosen in total, out of the forty+ trying out for the squad.

“It may seem like a very stressful situation; but if you work hard, smile, and make sure your motions and jumps look sharp, there’s nothing a girl with a dream cannot accomplish. If a girl really wants to be a cheerleader, she just has to have the right mindset and the confidence in herself to do it. You can accomplish anything if you work at it. That goes for every sport as well– never forget that,” encouraged Dykas.

The Olympian cheerleaders plan to have a very exciting and successful season this coming school year.