ECLIPSE 2023
“Cheerleading the stereotypical ideal is just that … a facade that hides the reality of this unique cultural phenomenon.” – Grunge. People think of cheer as an extracurricular and not a sport, but it takes guts for this sport. Often athletes have had practice slept and come right back the following morning. Cheerleaders frequently go to the gym more than they do at home and with their teammates more often than their families. From traveling across the country together to crying in each other’s arms when hurt they become each other’s family. I was able to speak with some cheerleaders from South El Monte High School who have a passion for the sport.
Jasmine Mendoza is a Junior at South El Monte High School and has been cheer since she
was 8 years old I simply asked how cheer makes her feel she stated “Cheer is an indescribable feeling, the rush from being on stage is unmatched and the bond you make with your teammates is on a deeper level.” She explained to me how cheer can be stressful She said “Having a life outside of cheer is difficult. It takes up a lot of my life and you have to be 110% committed. If not you aren’t putting all your effort into the sport.” Most times coaches will have athletes put cheer above everything including school. The price of cheer isn’t cheap competition fees, flights, and monthly tuition add up. The bonds they create travel across the country to states including, Georgia, Indianapolis, Dallas, and Florida. Jasmine has won many titles she states her biggest accomplishment is “Winning D2 Summit 2023 in Florida, becoming a 2-time Cheersport champion, and with her J2 team 4th place out of 120 teams in Atlanta.” Jasmine continues to thrive now as a D1 athlete.
Next, I was able to speak to Myla Torres a freshman on varsity cheer who has been cheering for 6 years. Myla says “Cheerleading makes me feel powerful and accomplished if I can do a cheer routine I can do anything. The biggest stressor is when my body gives up.” All-star cheer takes a toll when you feel like you’re not putting your all into it. An athlete’s body can get tired and Myla does a lot just in one day a whole week can be a struggle, but she takes it with pride to feel that power that comes with a win. Myla states “During the week I cheer every day but Friday
and Sunday including games.” On average, she practices 5 hours a day including travel time, and gets home at 10 PM. This leaves her not very much time for school work but she still manages to fit that in and maintain a good GPA. Myla enjoys traveling with her team and seeing new places, she’s an amazing athlete who can handle stressful situations.
Finally, I was able to talk to Anonymous they have been cheering for 6 years. They stress the hardest part of being a cheerleader is when stunts don’t hit. They continue to express that “I will take accountability but it’s stressful when there’s a fall and it’s my stunt.” When you’re on the mat on stage at a competition you only get that one chance to hit your routine. The amount of pressure these athletes endure backstage can cause throwing up, fainting, and seizures. Coaches also experience this stress and cause stress. Anonymous states they have been yelled at for no reason by coaches for simply standing there. Athletes get kicked out of the gym and told they never want to be seen again and are expected back for the next practice. The intense sport pushes the athletes to reach their limit, but at what costs? Loving the sport comes with a price of full commitment.
The love for the sport continues to grow nationally teams from all over the world want to be at the top. Most likely the most competitive sport in the nation isn’t the easiest. From late nights to early mornings one thing they always have is their teammates by their side, even around the world. Cheerleading is entertaining and requires a high level of skill and a lot of love. Cheerleading is a sport almost meant for everyone.
