During the winter season, the FHS Cheerleading Team are still cheering at various sports games–but the difference from the fall season is that it’s no longer conditioning or building skills needed for the ongoing season. 

“Competition versus cheering at basketball games is a very big difference,” Captain Alexa Ochoa stated, “We’re the only sport that has to have practice and then go cheer for another sport after.” While it was their first time at the Killin’ It Classic, the team has been to other competitions, such as the discontinued Windsor Warrior, CCSU Showcase, CCC’s, and States. This year they have also included The Battle at Viking Valley, which was attended before States. 

Although the team took home first place in the advanced division of the competition, there are other opportunities to place, such as partner stunts, solo jumps, solo dance, or solo tumbling. Cheerleader Kyoko Watanabe won first place for her solo dance while the team placed third for partner stunts. 

“The biggest challenge, especially for the first competition, is if we’re going to hit everything during the performance. Even though we can do it perfectly at practice, there’s always the risk of something going wrong.” stated Ochoa. 

While the team has had their challenges, they’ve achieved more success. One of the biggest successes for the girls was how well they performed, and while challenges can seem like setbacks, FHS Cheerleading turns theirs into advantages to help them improve their performances in preparation for the CCC’s.

“Our team is very supportive of each other, and a lot of that was shown at the competition of being there for each other, pushing each other to be our best,” Ochoa remarked.