After three straight state titles and a runner-up appearance last season, seven of the 12 senior cheerleaders from last year’s team decided to forgo their final season of competitive cheer. This unforeseen decision shocked many, as the Adams Cheer team has always been such a tight-knit community and successful team.
The overall legacy of the team is impressive, but the past few years the girls raised the competition to a new level, which made this situation even more surprising.
Many factors played into this decision. For some of the girls, the demanding schedule and overall mental wellness outweighed their love for the sport.
“It was the stress factor. It takes up literally eight months, and you only have one month off the entire year. It’s so time-consuming especially if you’re not 100% in it,” said one of the former cheerleaders.
It’s bittersweet. Although it is sad to see talent leave the team, at the end of the day mental health is more important than a medal. As for the seniors who stayed on the team, they prioritized commitment.
“We only have one season left, so I just wanted to finish it out. It looks bad for the underclassman and the program in general if a whole grade quits. I felt obligated to stay and finish my four years,” said a current varsity cheerleader.
The remaining cheerleaders will need to adjust, but not all hope is lost for winning States. The team still has a strong chance of placing with their advanced skills and undying determination.
“Initially I was worried, but I feel like now we have a team full of new people who are hungry and want to win,” said an anonymous Adams varsity cheerleader.
Although it was considered a challenge initially, many see this as a new opportunity.
“I feel like there is a silver lining, it stung to lose all the people I was cheering with since I was a freshman. But we have the same drive, determination, and goals. Just with different people,” said another anonymous Adams cheerleader.
Although some seniors decided not to try out this year, they still love the girls and want the best for the team and expect their ex-teammates to win it all.
“I think how it will be how it always is, Adams, Stoney, and Rochester at the top,” said an ex-Adams cheerleader.
This statement rings true as the cheer team recently brought home its first league win of the season showing the competition and doubters that they are ready to claim the state title once again.
