Cheer showcase ends the season with a bang

Senior+Kayla+Bunnell+and+sophomore+Danielle+Lee+warmly+embrace+each+other+after+the+closing+of+the+cheer+showcase

Senior Kayla Bunnell and sophomore Danielle Lee warmly embrace each other after the closing of the cheer showcase

Smiles and blurs of red, white and gold filled the eyes of audience members as JV and Varsity cheer squads performed their last showcase of the year March 12, to their friends and family in the big gym.

“This year was great. We have so many amazing girls on the team that all encourage and motivate each other!” Junior Madi Rodriguez said. “We have come a long way since April of last year, and we learned how to become a team.”

Cheer hosts the showcase annually in the big gym to demonstrate routines each cheer squad has practiced in the past year. The showcase is the last performance of the year and is filled with emotion.

“It was honestly such a surreal day for me. It’s our last event as a team, and it’s always super emotional and exhausting, but I loved every minute of it,” junior Paige Bartell said.

At the showcase, senior cheerleaders walked up with their families and talked about their favorite memories of cheer and how cheerleading affected their high school experiences. All of the seniors shared their memories from cheer camp and their future after high school.

“I have been on cheer half of my high school experience, and I will miss it dearly,” senior Trisha Makhija said. “It was an unforgettable day. My stunt group and I went out with a bang!”

In order to prepare for the showcase, squads practiced three times a week for ten months. They also practiced for the showcase by performing at pep rallies and games.

The cheer team also went on a cheer camp that allowed them to bond together and learn more skills in the process. Last year’s camp lasted for four days and was in Palm Springs.  

“Cheer camp is a great experience that allows the team to get out of our comfort zone and try new things,” Rodriguez said.

At the end of the showcase, the cheer squad came together and thanked head coach Linzi Gorzycki for all the help and motivation she provided this year and gave her a bouquet of flowers.

“I’ve had an amazing year with each and every one of these girls, and I’m thankful to have been their coach,” Gorzycki said.