Competitive Cheer Season Brings It On
Pioneer welcomes competitive cheerleading team to the mat with hopes to win big.
By Katie Scripoch
Pioneer welcomes competitive cheerleading team to the mat with hopes to win big.
By Katie Scripoch
From the sidelines to stunting, Pioneer High School officially has its third cheer sport. Traditional competitive cheer has started and coaches and athletes alike are excited for what the sport has to offer. With sideline cheer being at football and basketball games, traditional competitive cheer will be showing short routines at various in person and virtual competitions until the end of February.
After a number of girls from the sideline cheer team asked their coach, Kenzie Horn, to look into starting the sport, Pioneer welcomed traditional competitive cheer to their list of sports. To add a sport to Pioneer, the prospective coach needs to go to the Athletic Director, Joe Berticevich, explaining what the sport is and how it benefits the school community. The team will be competing in the novice non-tumbling division and their first competition will take place on Dec. 10 in Union City.
“I think having our sideline team transform over the past two years that we’ve been here has really shown that we’re dedicated,” said Kenzie Horn.
Mylie Tejeda, 10, chose to try out for the team because she thought it would be something fun to experience during her high school years.
“I did competitive cheer before and I loved it. My coaches also encouraged everyone on sideline to try out so I did,” said Tejeda.
Mia Vierhus, 12, is looking forward to the new memories she’ll make with her teammates and is hoping to bring home a win from nationals.
“Since it’s my senior year, I wanted to make sure I get the most out of it. I will never get an opportunity to do this again,” said Vierhus. “Since I don’t plan on continuing cheer in college, this was my only chance to try competitive cheer.”
Since neighboring high schools and middle schools already have a traditional competitive cheer team, assistant coach Jessica Horn, Kenzie Horn’s sister, is excited to be a part of this developing team.
“Sideline and competition are very different types of cheer. Competition really brings you 20 times closer to your team and it’s really a great atmosphere and a whole different atmosphere,” said Jessica Horn.
Kyleigh Visperas, 12, who captains the sideline team, is happy to see how much she’s progressed so far and is excited to stunt with new people as the season continues.
“My goal is to go into this sport with an open mind since it is a new addition to the PHS sports community,” said Visperas.
With only one person on the team who didn't come from the sideline cheer team, Kenzie Horn has some concerns about the team performing in front of other schools and strangers instead of the Pioneer community.
“It’s very different to perform in front of your school rather than strangers and other cheer teams because there’s usually hundreds of cheer teams at regionals and it’s very intimidating to be around other teams that are just as good or better,” said Kenzie Horn.
Others on the team are looking forward to making memories and creating stronger friendships with their teammates.
“The team is very strong and cohesive, we all work very well with each other and for being so early into the season the bond feels unbreakable,” said Aly Rock, 12. “My favorite part about being on the team is that it’s not just a team but more like a second family.”
As cheer isn’t always recognized as a sport, and oftentimes has claims against its legitimacy, Jessica Horn wants the same appreciation for cheer as other sports receive.
“This is a true sport and it’s not just like, ‘Oh we’re cheering on the crowd.’ There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears that go into this and I really just want people to realize that, and hopefully understand and respect it more,” said Jessica Horn.
After a number of girls from the sideline cheer team asked their coach, Kenzie Horn, to look into starting the sport, Pioneer welcomed traditional competitive cheer to their list of sports. To add a sport to Pioneer, the prospective coach needs to go to the Athletic Director, Joe Berticevich, explaining what the sport is and how it benefits the school community. The team will be competing in the novice non-tumbling division and their first competition will take place on Dec. 10 in Union City.
“I think having our sideline team transform over the past two years that we’ve been here has really shown that we’re dedicated,” said Kenzie Horn.
Mylie Tejeda, 10, chose to try out for the team because she thought it would be something fun to experience during her high school years.
“I did competitive cheer before and I loved it. My coaches also encouraged everyone on sideline to try out so I did,” said Tejeda.
Mia Vierhus, 12, is looking forward to the new memories she’ll make with her teammates and is hoping to bring home a win from nationals.
“Since it’s my senior year, I wanted to make sure I get the most out of it. I will never get an opportunity to do this again,” said Vierhus. “Since I don’t plan on continuing cheer in college, this was my only chance to try competitive cheer.”
Since neighboring high schools and middle schools already have a traditional competitive cheer team, assistant coach Jessica Horn, Kenzie Horn’s sister, is excited to be a part of this developing team.
“Sideline and competition are very different types of cheer. Competition really brings you 20 times closer to your team and it’s really a great atmosphere and a whole different atmosphere,” said Jessica Horn.
Kyleigh Visperas, 12, who captains the sideline team, is happy to see how much she’s progressed so far and is excited to stunt with new people as the season continues.
“My goal is to go into this sport with an open mind since it is a new addition to the PHS sports community,” said Visperas.
With only one person on the team who didn't come from the sideline cheer team, Kenzie Horn has some concerns about the team performing in front of other schools and strangers instead of the Pioneer community.
“It’s very different to perform in front of your school rather than strangers and other cheer teams because there’s usually hundreds of cheer teams at regionals and it’s very intimidating to be around other teams that are just as good or better,” said Kenzie Horn.
Others on the team are looking forward to making memories and creating stronger friendships with their teammates.
“The team is very strong and cohesive, we all work very well with each other and for being so early into the season the bond feels unbreakable,” said Aly Rock, 12. “My favorite part about being on the team is that it’s not just a team but more like a second family.”
As cheer isn’t always recognized as a sport, and oftentimes has claims against its legitimacy, Jessica Horn wants the same appreciation for cheer as other sports receive.
“This is a true sport and it’s not just like, ‘Oh we’re cheering on the crowd.’ There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears that go into this and I really just want people to realize that, and hopefully understand and respect it more,” said Jessica Horn.