By Brooke Markworth

The Sheyenne Cheer Team has been a sport for many years. However, January 2022 will be the first year competing.

Throughout the years, the cheerleaders have prepared for the moment that they will compete to bring home the State title of North Dakota Cheer to Sheyenne High School.

However, the preparation for the event isn’t all so easy. Before the State competition on March 19th, 2022, the members need to figure out a game plan.

With Jennifer Larrieu as a first-year head coach for Sheyenne, they are determined to put everything they have into winning the event.

Since middle school, Jenn has dreamed of coaching a State cheer team of her own. During her senior year, she was on the winning state cheer team for the West Fargo Packers. Since then, Larrieu had coached at West Fargo Davies High school and an 18 plus cheer team in Moorhead, MN called the Invaders.

A typical practice session requires preparation. To begin, the cheer mats and tape must be set up in the Sheyenne Multipurpose Room before each practice.

For the members, practices start off with fifteen minutes of stretching. Continuing on, they start tumbling while encouraging each other to push themselves along the way.

“As much as I love Cheer, it gets hard to balance with life sometimes.”

-Cheyenna Thompson (senior)

Each practice also consists of reviewing cheers as well as playing the “hit game.” The game helps the cheerleaders’ motions become sharper and look cleaner.

One of the favorite things for the girls to do is stunting. Some examples of stunts are split pyramids, extensions, and shoulder sits. Each stunt requires the need of two or four members.

With winter tryouts over, the hard work has begun for the team that ranges from grades 8-12 who practice Monday through Friday from 3:45pm to 6:30pm in addition to weight training on Mondays and Wednesdays. Occasional team bonding is also important on their schedule.

Along with having practice at least four days a week, the members have their own school and outside responsibilities as well which also includes balancing school, cheer, family, relationships, and other extra curriculars.

One example is Abbie Chesser, an 8th grader who attends Liberty Middle School. Abbie is a first-year cheerleader for Sheyenne High School. During the cheerleading season, Abbie is also a figure skater and dancer. Abbie hopes to get her driver’s license soon. She’s also a full time student and an inspiration to many members on the team.

No matter how much stress, the athletes’ dedication means everything and nothing will get in their way of winning the State title.