MiddCheer keeps spirits up, thinks big

Uncertainty can be a scary thing, but the MiddCheer cheerleading squad knows how to roll with the punches with the greatest of ease. Led by co-captains Michelle Kirkman ’11 and Ginny Johnson ’12,  the group must work hard to cope with a perpetually changing squad.

“We’re undergoing a sort of reorganizational period as a result of a change in leadership, and our numbers are constantly shifting because of people going abroad,” Kirkman said.

MiddCheer’s ultimate goal is to promote school spirit, but participating in the fall and spring Midd Dance showcases are also on the docket. The team expressed unanimous interest in performing at football and basketball halftime shows this year, as well as in a springtime competition, something they haven’t done in a few years.

For the squad to perform at halftime shows, they would need to learn between 30 and 40 cheers and practice more frequently than their current two days a week. Participating in competitions would require a basic knowledge of stunts and tumbling, which they focus on at a training center in Rutland during J-Term.

The squad could stand to gain some members this year, as only a handful of new members signed up for MiddCheer at the recent activities fair. Although Johnson says they recruited a few boys for the team and had two boys on the squad last year, the team is mostly female. And even though several of the new members have prior experience with dancing and cheering, it is not a requirement.

“You don’t need any prior experience to join MiddCheer, and a lot of our girls have never cheered before,” said Johnson, who has been cheering on a competition-oriented squad since the sixth grade. “Our main goal right now is to introduce people to the basics of cheerleading.”

MiddCheer’s emphasis on fun is one of the many reasons the squad is so appealing.

“I joined MiddCheer to get to know people in a really relaxed atmosphere,” said Tyler Norris ’12.

The team plans an annual outing to a cheerleading competition in Six Flags. In recent years, they have watched the competition as opposed to participating in it in order to see other squads’ routines.

“Bring It On” movie screenings are regularly incorporated into the squad’s team bonding experiences, in addition to extensive chats and team dinners.

“We just like to have fun,” Kirkman said, summing up the team’s raison d’être.

So keep an eye out for MiddCheer at any and all upcoming games -—- they’ll be cheering from the sidelines, even if it’s not in uniform during halftime.