Sideline Spirit: East Buchanan Cheer

By Kirsten Stokes

This week’s Sideline Spirit features the East Buchannan cheerleading team.

Competing in the 2A Missouri coaching cheerleading association competition, the squad of 17 is ready to get their bid at regionals for a shot at a state trophy.

“We have a lot of DUAL SPORT athletes. So, between volleyball, golf, cheer and like, FCCLA and NHS just finding time to all get together this way we have to do practices in the morning. but yeah, fun time to be together to really work through everything.” Said senior captain Abagail Barton.

It’s about managing their time wisely but more than that the girls aren’t equipped with a full 42×52 mat, so they use cones and rope to block out the full floor.

“It’s a little bit of a concern just because, you get a little comfortable with trying to condense everything on for or kind of shifting your direction a little bit,” said coach Hesson.

Despite small oppositions, they prepare every morning for practice from a.m. to 8a.m. and bring positive energy to the floor as they work through their jumps, tumbling, pyramid and dance section of the competition routine.

Leaders on the team are focused on having fun and paying attention to what truly matters when it comes to bringing this routine to the competition floor.

“We don’t need to worry about every tiny, tiny thing at the moment. just try to get like have fun together and like be a team,” said captain Rilyn Sherwood.

“As long as we hit it and we’re proud of it, that’s all we really care about,” said captain Ellie Jackson.

Multitasking other sports and activities maintaining a great grade Point average and having fun but also getting work done are some of the priorities for the East Buchanan cheerleading team and with that attitude they’ll get their bid for regionals.