Sideline Spirit: Mid-Buchanan Cheer

By Kirsten Stokes

This week’s ‘Sideline Spirit’ features the Mid-Buchanan Cheerleading team ahead of Friday’s game vs. East Buchanan.

With the battle of the Buch’s, the teams 6:30 a.m. practice Wednesday was focused on cleaning cheers and practicing the fight song for a clean run Friday.

Both seniors and juniors on the team talked about the specific skills they are currently working on.

“We do cradles, face plants, half-ups, and we usually practice in the mornings or before the games or at halftime,” said senior Kennedie Duncan.

In another stunt group, senior Alexis Ferguson talked about their focuses.

“The skill we’re working on the most right now is our extension liberty unassisted. We’ve been able to hit the prep pretty good, but that’s the one that we just can’t seem to get, so we’ve been working pretty hard on that all season,” Ferguson said.

Head coach Hannah Wheeler and assistant coach Michelle Phillips are learning how to work with a team double the size of last year, 22, and that comes with its improvements, but challenges.

“This year we have been able to do four stunt groups, two are returning stunt groups, and then two have just learned as we went,” Wheeler said.

I asked assistant coach Phillips how they keep the girls pumped for this rivalry.

“ Fortunately the rivalry helps and they just come in fired up. We promoted it all week at school and we really talk about it in the hallways and in classrooms and stuff,” Phillips said.

With a great year of team bonding, according to senior Lillion Meyer.

“We’re together a lot. So I feel like the more we are, the more it helps us on the football field,” Meyers said.

And hopefully that teamwork will promote a win on Friday.