Cheer squad: no coach or routine

No voices are reverberating in the usually lively cheer studio these days. It sits empty because the team has lacked a coach since mid-September. Even worse, the team’s competition season is in jeopardy.

Each year after the football season ends, cheerleaders have the choice whether to become a part of the competition team, which practices tougher routines for competitions.

“We haven’t had practice since PeeWee week because we have no one to help us at practice,” junior cheerleader Megan Marshall said.

Due to the team’s lack of a coach, only the band performed its field show during halftime at the home football game against Santa Clara on Nov. 1.

According to senior and varsity co-captain Stephanie Tsang, the seniors were disappointed that they could not perform at the last halftime, but said they “all agreed that it would be better to make an amazing routine that we were proud of than risk it without a coach.”

According to the administration, the team is set to get a new coach soon, but the team does not know if there will be a competition season in store for them.

“That’s kind of upsetting because I really wanted to go to Disneyland for the [Spirit Championships in Southern California],” Marshall said.

Every year, the team prepares routines to showcase at the Spirit Championships in Anaheim in May. It is the most important and anticipated event for the cheer team, and many like Marshall, are disappointed.

“It has been especially difficult for me and the other captains because we have to delegate and keep track of everyone,” Tsang said.  “Feuds arose and we had to handle them in a way in which no one got angry or upset.”

Tsang and junior co-captain Jillian Bellamy were put in a difficult position.

“I think it really tested our leadership skills and I am very proud of how we handled the situation despite all the difficulty,” Tsang said.

Although little progress has been made since Darris Davis-Gorman — who moved back to his home in Texas — resigned, the cheer team continues to show spirit at football games and will try its best to prepare routines for the upcoming basketball season. Until a new coach is hired, the cheer team will have to stick together and hope for the best.

“Things can only look up from here,” Tsang said. “Our cheer team is like a second family. I'm proud of everyone on the team and they should be proud of themselves too."

Dance team settles down with coach

The dance team, who were hurt from the resignation of Dinishia Nichols earlier this year, finally has a permanent coach: professional dancer Brittani Sua.