Wilsonville High School carried strong teams all around, but our schools cheerleaders are in need of more recognition! Representing our school at State in any sport is a big weight on athletes’ shoulders, both mentally and physically. These girls practice routines time after time during util they’re flawless.
The road to State this year wasn’t made any easier for these athletes, considering they had to adapt to a new coach mid-season. This can be difficult for athletes to adjust to new learning styles, new staff, new choreography, all while trying to build the fundamental foundation of trust.
Head coach Sydney McGraw, former All-Star Cheerleader tackles the job head on to lead this team to its full potential when fighting for State. Not to mention, the pressure that comes along with taking on State can become a struggle to athletes’ mental health. McGraw states, “I live for that pressure, and it’s been amazing to see the team rise to the occasion.”
State itself for this team was a first to some of the athletes, and also for McGraw as a coach.
This memorable experience was exciting, but nerve-racking for the team as they competed on the mat. Sophomore, Kaylin Fransone describes the atmosphere of competition day, “It was very energetic and competitive.”
The hard work and dedication these girls put into their performance surely paid off and received rewarding accomplishments. Some of their many noteworthy accomplishments this season are: hitting all zeros all season, which means no deductions, and at the Game Day Division, (in which they completed for the first time), they placed in the top 5 locally. Finally, at State, they ended up placing 9th out of a whole 25 other teams that were there! McGraw shares, “I am incredibly proud of all the milestones our team reached this season.”