By Siramar Roman

GALWAY–Most people think cheerleaders are just girls jumping up and down yelling. Most people don’t know how much work cheerleaders do. They have to memorize tons of sidelines cheers, floor cheers, dances, and crowd cheers. On top of all of that they stunt, which requires hard work, strength, and agility.

This year the Galway cheerleading team has decided to go to competition and bring home a trophy! Galway hasn’t gone to competition in three years. This year, to participate in competition the girls first had to sign a commitment form. Competition is a huge responsibility and commitment. The girls that are doing competition have to stay an extra hour after regular practice! There are some Saturday practices and practice days during the December and February breaks.

There are twelve girls on the competition squad, and they are a combined JV and varsity team. They are considered a small varsity team. For competition they’re doing a cheer, then a dance, another cheer, and one more dance, and it’s a two and a half minute routine!

This year’s competition team members at the varsity level are: Katie Pitts (senior, varsity captain), Maria Giroux (senior, varsity captain), Shaina Schulz (junior, varsity captain), Ashley Fredericks (junior), and Amanda Kondrat (junior).

The JV girls team members are: Michelle Gribben (sophomore, JV captain), Camille Milton (sophomore, JV captain), Alaina Foust (sophomore), Molly Cross (sophomore), Nicole Marchese (freshman, captain), Shelby Cull (freshman), and lastly Emily Bailey (freshman).

All combined equal a total of twelve talented ladies. The varsity and JV coaches have also bonded together to coach this dream team. The varsity coach, Ms. Verrigni has been coaching cheerleading for five years. She has also coached the Galway modified volleyball team for six years. The JV cheerleading coach this year is Mrs. Moffatt, and she has been coaching for the past five years.

I interviewed the two seniors on this year’s squad, Katie Pitts and Maria Giroux. Katie has been cheering for Galway for the past four years. This is her first year going to competition. “Competition is one of the best opportunities I have had. In order to be a good cheerleader, you have to be peppy, stiff, and confident. When you are on a competition team you take all those things to the next level. Even for people like Maria, Shaina, Amanda, Ashley, and I, competition is hard and we’re on varsity. The younger girls are doing so good catching on and doing things at the varsity level. I am so proud of all of them.” According to Katie, the varsity team, “has done extremely well. Our sidelines are probably the best we have ever had. We also have tumblers and two extremely strong stunt groups. We also never have a dull moment. We’re always changing routines and making more cheers. Cheerleading is pretty much my life.”

Maria Giroux has also been cheering for four years and this is also her first year doing competition. “Competition is such a great opportunity, not only for me but for the new girls as well. Competition is a lot of hard work and it gets the younger girls ready for varsity.” She also expressed her love for it. “For the past four years my love for cheerleading has grown so much. Cheer leading is my passion and I don’t know what I would do without it. The rest of the team and I all work very hard to be the best we can be.”

All the girls are excited to show off their original routine. They are giving it their all so wish them good luck. The competition is going to be on Saturday, February 18 at Broadalbin-Perth High School. Come join them and cheer them on! See how hard all the girls have worked!

Hopefully they bring home a trophy! Good luck girls!