Despite initial setbacks, the football cheer team finished the fall season having learned new stunts and collaborated to revamp their skills.
Senior captain Ali Kilbourne said the season’s tryouts were initially scheduled to begin in April but were delayed until August as they searched for a new head coach.
“We didn’t know what the coaching situation would be, and at the beginning of the summer, we were just hoping we’d have a season,” she said.
Junior Samantha Flinner said the uncertainty was concerning for the team.
“It brought a lot of anxiety thinking that we wouldn’t have a coach this season,” she said. “It was always on the back of our minds this summer.”
Kilbourne said they found out Kristi Blaczyk would be their new coach just weeks before school started, so the team had to quickly recover their skills with only a few weeks of practice before the football season started.
“We built our skills back up, and everyone grew really fast even though we didn’t have the summer to practice,” she said.
Senior captain Naomi Baker said the team put a lot of time and effort into perfecting their elaborate skills.
“We learned a new pyramid where three groups are connected and Ali does a flip up to the top,” she said.
Kilbourne said improving their stunts was a primary goal at the beginning of the year. She added the team’s dedication was a huge factor in helping them succeed.
Kilbourne explained when the entire team showed up and gave their all was when the skill and productivity developed seamlessly.
“They’ve all been really excited and willing to try new things,” she said.
Baker said the varsity team this fall mainly consisted of seniors, with a few juniors and one sophomore as well. She added it was a challenge to teach the higher-level stunts to new varsity members, but they all learned quickly.
“Those that aren’t seniors have really adapted to being on varsity, and our team has grown for the better with them,” Baker said.
Sophomore Charlotte Langolf earned a position on varsity this season and said the team’s strong bond and natural cooperation helped her progression.
“The team felt stricter and we practiced a lot more difficult skills,” she said. “But transferring was pretty easy since we all work so well together.”
Flinner explained the cheer team’s atmosphere is positive, which allowed the team to work well together and improve their skills.
“Practice is so fun and I always look forward to it,” she said. “Whether we’re working on a stunt or just goofing off together, it usually feels very light.”
Langolf explained her placement on varsity helped her meet more people, make new friends and gain trust in her teammates.
“We are all very supportive of each other,” she said. “Since we’re doing dangerous things like throwing each other up in the air, we have to have trust.”
Baker said she loved participating in cheer throughout her four years of high school. She believes it was important for the team to work hard and stay focused, so the team is now able to work well with each other and continue their relationship, she said.
“Giving pep talks during games helps improve our attitudes,” she said. “Even something as simple as going to team dinners is important to keep us bonded.”
Kilbourne explained basketball cheer will also have a new head coach this upcoming season, and she anticipates further success for the team.
“We all know each other’s strengths and what we need to work on, so that we can improve upon each other next season,” she said.
Kilbourne said she thinks the team will have a smoother time during the basketball cheer season because of the preparation they have made throughout the last season.
Langolf said she is looking forward to the winter cheer season because it means new skills and bonding opportunities. However, she added that she will miss her sophomore year football season and always remember it fondly.
“We are a special team with some special memories,” she said.
Published and digitized November 2025.
