Sandy Creek Central School District
Comet Pride is Community-wide!Cheer
January 28th, 2018 by Jazmyn Baker
Varsity Cheerleading
Varsity Fall Competitive Cheer was coached by Tanya VanOrnum assisted by Jodi Whitney. The team consisted of Savannah Brown (senior), Allyssa Smith (senior captain),Madison Yerdon (senior),Hannah Dasno (Junior), Roise Walter ( Junior captain),Vanessa Fox(Junior), Lainie Hathway (Sophomore), Abigail LaRue (Sophomore), Marley Yerdon (Sophomore), Alexis Miley (Freshman), Madeleine Palmer (Freshman), Olivia Pappa (Freshman), Madison Benedict (8th Grade).
These ladies have had an amazing season. At their first competition they took second place. But the last two competitions they have stepped their game up and have took victory in first place. The Sandy Creek Varsity cheerleading team dedicates their time after school from 3-6 constantly working on and changing their team to become the best they can be. Coach Tanya VanOrnum is a counselor at Sandy creek high school, after a long day of work she goes straight to coaching, she is also a judge at other cheer competitions. She has a tumbler instructor come into the school every tuesday and work with the girls. Coach Tanya VanOrnum is like a mother to these girls, she supports them through everything.
I asked coach Tanya VanOrnum why does she love to be the Varsity cheer coach and why does she keeping coming back every year? Coach Tanya VanOrnum stated "I love the challenge of creating new routines for my athletes. I love watching my team progress athletically and the relationships we build with each other lasts a lifetime.
I also asked Junior Captain Rosie Walter what do you feel it takes to be on Varsity? Why do you love cheer so much? Rosie Walter responded with "To be on varsity cheer you have to be willing to adapt and do things that might push your comfort zone. Commitment is the most important thing in this sport because every person has a part to play. Cheer is like a family, we all disagree at times but in the end we support each other. Having this place where I can go and feel safe and wanted is the best feeling I could ask for."
JV Cheerleading
The JV cheer team this year has had a very satisfying season. The beginning of the season was tough, the team had at most 9 players. On Saturday October 14th the Sandy Creek JV cheer team traveled to South Jefferson High School and took 3rd place at the first competition of the season minus 2 players. Coach Whitney advised to the team to do their finest and have a clean performance. The girls have a few new team members this season and a few returning. They still did their remarkably best. The had to alter their routine about 2 times due to lack of player for competitions. The team has stayed after school almost everyday of the season to practice. Jv cheer started about 2 weeks before school started. The team members came into the school everyday from 3-6 during the final few days of summer to get ready for the approaching season.
Coached by Jodi Whitney the team consists of
Abby Battles 8th, Jazmyn Baker 9th, Andrea Jennings 9th, Aleyna Jones 9th , Brooke Rogers 9th, Samantha White 9th, Skylar Skellington 10th , Shonna Drake 11th, Kaitlyn Quinn 12th . I asked Coach Jodi Whitney "why do you choose to coach cheer? s.Whitney responded with " I choose to be a cheer coach because I love the ever changing sport and I with love watching the teams push themselves further and accomplish goals everyday".
I also asked flyer Abby Battles what does she feel is the most important thing in cheerleading? Why do you love the sport so much? Abbie Battles responds with
"I think that having a special bond with your team is really important and I love the sport because you get to meet new people and I love to go one the mat and do my best."
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