Jamie Byrd has seen the ups and downs of cheerleading firsthand at school. Starting out as the varsity cheerleading coach and competition coach, she has witnessed the transformation of the team and the challenges that come with it. Eve Talbot (12), Kenleigh Robinson (12), and Journie Jackson (12) are the captains and co-captains for the competition team. They have been cheerleading since their freshmen year and want to start the competition team. The process of starting the team was not easy, but Byrd and the team were determined to make it happen.  

“We’ve had a competition team for a very long time, and then after COVID, it kind of stopped,” Byrd said.  

The team was able to overcome the setbacks and get back on their feet from scratch. From researching rules and regulations to creating their own tryout process, the team left no stone unturned in their pursuit of forming an elite competition team for their school. As the captains and co-captains for the competition team, Talbot, Robinson, and Jackson produced their own tryouts.  

“We really want to do it and we all stepped up into making a team, making tryout, making practices,” Talbot said. 

One of the main goals of the team is to expand beyond the current JV and Varsity cheerleaders. This year’s competition team is a tumbling team, which means that their routines will be more similar to what they perform on the sidelines during Friday night games. This allows the team to showcase their skills in a more competitive environment. 

“This is something that we do every single Friday night on the sidelines, so this is just bringing it to the mat to do a competitive part of it,” Byrd said. 

With tumbling being a crucial aspect of the team’s routines, the tryout process includes a tumbling component, making it important for potential team members to have a base level of tumbling skills. 

“You must have pretty much the basics of tumbling, some jumps, and sharp moves,” Jackson said.

From the basics of tumbling to sharp and precise movements, the team is looking for cheerleaders who are willing to put in the effort to improve their skills and be a part of the competition team. Despite the challenges faced, some of the cheerleaders had experience that has helped them prepare for the tryout. 

“It was a smooth and easy process because most of us had previous experience with competition or All-Star cheerleading,” Robison said. 

Cheerleading at school may have its difficulties, but with passionate coaches like Byrd and determined team members like Talbot, Robinson, and Jackson, the team is ready to take on new challenges and achieve their goals. We can’t wait to see where this journey takes them.