Q&A with United cheerleading team members
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The sports teams of Kalamazoo Christian High School and Hackett Catholic Prep joined forces not long ago to create new combined United teams. Many of those teams are practicing hard even before school starts.
United Varsity Cheer Coach Holly Annen spoke with us about her love of coaching, which she has done for seven years, starting out with Rocket Cheer before moving on to Varsity Sideline and Competitive Cheer, at Portage Central and Portage Northern high schools and now with United.
A competitive cheerleader in high school, Holly says, 鈥淲hen my cheer years were over, I became a registered MHSAA Competitive Cheer Judge for 15 years. I then made the switch to coaching.鈥�
As the team gets ready to start the season, there are two major aspects of training: conditioning and teamwork.聽 鈥淲e have to have the endurance and strength for the duration of a game鈥攁nd overtime. Equally important is how well a team gels together, meaning the personal accountability, skill work, trust and camaraderie that are vital to safe and spectacular stunting.鈥� Annen tells us the team hopes to perform something new every Friday night. 鈥淭he cheerleaders need to keep the crowd engaged and loud,鈥� Holly says.
Among her proudest experiences is helping the young women coach the United Rocket Football Cheer Program. 鈥淥ur varsity team coaches them one night a week and for Saturday morning games. It鈥檚 a huge commitment that develops the cheerleaders鈥� personal skills of time management, organization, leadership and teamwork.鈥�
We checked in with some of Holly鈥檚 team to learn more about them, Emma Bartholomew, 16, has been cheering for two years and also participates in dance, basketball, and track. Isabella Hentz, 15, plays volleyball and basketball and will be in her 2nd year on the cheer team. Riley Magierka, 15, has been doing cheer for eight years and also does gymnastics. Lizzy Prius, 15, has done cheer for two years and also plays soccer.
What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?
Emma Bartholomew: I would like to get better at tumbling, and grow the cheer team.
Isabella Hentz: To become stronger and improve in the sports I try in these next few years.
Riley Magierka: I hope to go to college for acro-tumbling.
Lizzy Prius: My biggest goal is to always enjoy what I’m doing. When I focus on that, nobody can ruin the experience for you.
What is your biggest challenge in your sport?
Bartholomew: Keeping my spirits up when crowds aren鈥檛 as enthusiastic and encouraging as we would like.
Hentz: Learning fast because last year was my very first year and it was a big adjustment for me.
Magierka: Balancing my time with the other sports I do. I manage this by working with my coaches.
Prius: I have had an injury during every high school sports season. Now I go to the athletic trainer before every game and practice.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Bartholomew: Be the bigger person.
Hentz: Having strong relationships with those around you will help you thrive.
Magierka: The more effort you put into something, the more you get out of it.
Prius: Stop caring what the audience thinks and to just roll with what the sport gives you.
What do you love about your sport?
Bartholomew: I love the team environment. Practices are something I always look forward to.
Hentz: I love how close my team is with each other. I have made many new and close friends.
Magierka: I love learning new things and mastering new skills. I love getting thrown up into the air and oddly enough I鈥檓 never scared they aren’t going to catch me.
Prius: I love that as a group we push each other out of our comfort zone.
Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?
Bartholomew: We always eat together and do our makeup, which is one of my favorite parts.
Hentz: We always come together and have a team meeting.
Magierka: Praying before every competition.
Prius: I pinch my ears where I would put in earrings, crack my knuckles, then shake my hands and legs.
What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Bartholomew: I love to read, go on walks, go to dance practice, and listen to music.
Hentz: I use any chance I can to hang out with my friends and create memories.
Magierka: I love to spend time with my friends and family, travel, and relax at home.
Prius: I love baking, and the feeling of creating something beautiful I can share with others.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Bartholomew: It takes a lot of patience and comradery to work together. Cheer takes a lot of trust, and it鈥檚 an amazing thing once it鈥檚 all put together. Everyone is super happy and it鈥檚 such a rewarding experience.
Hentz: It has taught me that it really does take everyone to try their best. When learning new stunts, it is very important that everyone put in the same amount of effort if we want to see improvement.
Magierka: Always support others and know that you’re in this together. If something goes wrong, we take responsibility for it as a team.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach or mentor?
Bartholomew: Stay tight. Even if you鈥檙e not a flyer, if one person is loose, the whole stunt can crumble.
Hentz: We will not see the improvement we want unless we put in the work and try our best.
Magierka: Win as a team, lose as a team
Prius: The athletic trainer told me to keep getting back up. Every time I heard her telling me to keep going because she could tell how much I loved what I was doing, and I then had some of the best times.
Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
Bartholomew: Sometimes I completely forget the words during our chants, and I have to stop and listen for a second to get back in sync.
Hentz: When I do something wrong, I mentally take note so that the next time I get an opportunity to do it again I can do it correctly.
Magierka: It’s common to mess up, especially when learning new skills. I always feel bad when I mess up, but my team is so kind and understanding and they never blame anything on just one person.
Prius: Getting into a fight with my best friend during a game. She helps me forget about anyone watching and if I mess up, she helps me realize that it doesn’t matter. I think back to that moment and wish that I hadn’t fought with her because I wasn’t able to enjoy the sport I love with the people I love doing it with.
Izzy Hentz remembers how hard it was to try something new last year. 鈥淲hen I joined cheer last year, I was extremely nervous and doubtful but as the season went on I knew it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I have made so many memories and friends that I will cherish forever. If you are struggling with wanting to try out for something, do it, it may be scary but it could be one of the best things to happen to you.鈥� We imagine everyone agrees with Lizzy Prius when she says, 鈥淚 hope everyone can find something that makes them feel as amazing, happy, and free as cheer does for me.鈥�
As for Coach Holly, she says, 鈥淚 hope to leave each student-athlete with a love for the sport, overall fitness, appreciation for themselves and their teammates. I put a great deal of thought into every season, practice, and game to encourage their growth in faith and as individuals.鈥�
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