Courtesy of Saratoga Cheer
Freshmen Min Madhan, Eden Yonkers, Aeris Gullicksen and Taylor Lee; sophomores Isla Thomson and Felice Zhang; juniors Dezi Lencioni, Shayna Vu and Ella Porter and senior Aubrey Mattade, pose with their new coach Marky Martinez, at the Sept. 14 football game.Even with the competitive cheer season officially starting in December — around the time the football season ends — the 10-member team can already be found practicing every afternoon, with a new face at the helm.
Earlier this year, assistant principal Abra Evanoff helped hire a new coach, Marky Martinez, a professional dancer and dance instructor, in mid-summer after the team’s previous coach, Brandy Fisher, moved to coach cheer at Fremont.
Martinez was born and raised in the Bay Area and has over 15 years of experience. At 21 he pursued his dance career, dancing for high-profile artists like Todrick Hall, JoJo, Moon Allure, and Keke Palmer. He is now one of the first male dancers on the IFL Bay Area Panthers Dance Team and is finishing up his rookie season.
The team experienced a late start this year, a result of adjustments to the new coach as well as delays in uniform and supply deliveries.
As a result, the cheer team is trying to quickly organize for the competition season by practicing for dance performances and familiarizing Martinez with all of their cheers. While all of the adjusting and delay has been challenging, the cheer team has found their first few months highly rewarding while prepping for each home football game and competition.
“Coach Marky brings a vibrant and fun spirit to the team,” junior Shayna Vu said. “The new dances he has taught us are going to be fun to perform at football games.”
This year’s team includes four freshmen, all of whom have found a home in the community. Freshman Eden Yonkers finds the team’s performances during halftime at football games particularly fun.
“I definitely don’t have as much time, but it’s not something that I’m upset about because I’m having a lot of fun doing cheer,” Yonkers said.
Leading the team are two captains, junior Ella Porter and senior Aubrey Mattade, who earned their roles through an interview process.
Porter and Mattade provide additional support to the team for cheers and routines as well as coordinating with the coach on halftime routines, cheers and practice schedules and creating a transfer of communication between the coach and the rest of the team. The pair is also trying to ensure a close team bond this year.
“It’s definitely been a learning experience. I’m extremely proud and honored to be captain and I see so much potential in the team already,” Porter said.
