Powell High School gives students the opportunity to choose extracurricular activities to pursue, and cheerleading is one of them. PHS’s cheer season has come to an end, and many seniors have said their goodbyes.

Sharing love for something doesn’t always happen, but these cheerleaders have built a fondness and relationship within the sport.

“This past cheer season was really good,” senior Madison Johnson said. “All of the girls worked their butts off to make our senior year really fun. I felt like we grew a lot as a team; we learned to overcome a lot of difficulties…and we are all friends outside of cheer, so that really helped the team dynamic.”

Because of different aspects of cheerleading, improvements were needed to grow as a team, even after the seniors leave.

“I anticipate next year will be a great one,” coach Mrs. Vicki Walsh said. “We have 12 returners with so much talent coming back. They are so hard working and are always willing to try new things and want to improve, especially in stunting. They are already planning new ideas and wanting to try harder stunts.  With so many coming back, they will have the abilities to do so.”

Looking back on the seasons of cheer, many seniors find what they love most about the sport. On the other hand, leaving high school cheer behind means relinquishing the power.

“I think it’s scary with seeing how many of the seniors left the team this year with graduating; it’s about half the team leaving all at once,” senior Kolby Crichton said. “It’s going to be a weight on the shoulders of our returners to help teach our newbies, but I think that they’re all raring and ready to go.”

Moving on from high school, a couple of seniors plan to continue their cheerleading career in college.

“So far I have two moving on to college cheer,” Mrs. Walsh said. “Kathryn Brence is going to Dickinson State, and Kolby Crichton is headed to Rocky Mt. College in Billings. Kora Terry is planning on trying out at the University of Wyoming at the end of April, so we will know later on if she makes the team. I am excited for all my seniors to see where life takes them. They will all do amazing things.”

Some athletes don’t expect to become attached to a sport when they first join. Two particular cheerleaders tried out spontaneously and soon grew fond of the sport.

“Sophomore year, me and (senior) Precious Londo had a brilliant idea to try out for the cheer team…We talked to the coaches and we got enrolled for the audition,” Johnson said. “We showed up and knew absolutely nothing, but as soon as we stepped foot on the mat, we just felt like this is what we were supposed to be doing.”

Moving on from cheer is a choice some make going into the future. Cheerleading in high school has made an impact on many, especially this group of seniors. 

“I think this year was a very big part of all of our lives, so it’s going to be a little different not having the high school with us,” Crichton said. “I think we will all continue the love of the sport.”