Tension rises and adrenaline rushes to the athlete’s head. Though Competitive Cheerleading may not be considered a sport by many, the stress builds from flipping to stunting the girls prepare their rounds.

South’s Varsity cheerleaders put in the effort to prepare to win. The cheer team will attend a competition on Dec. 15 at Avondale High School. Zoey Nichols ‘26 said she is returning for her second competitive season with the team and looks forward to the first competition.

“I’m not very confident, but if I keep working on it, I’ll build it up before our first competition.” Zoey Nichols said.

Pre-competition routines tied to superstition often go through a repetitive time frame of getting ready and rehearsing. Even before leaving, South’s girls get excited. Millie Robarge ’24 has a few superstitious routines before she competes,

“I have to get a venti strawberry ice refresher at Starbucks, and this has been like something that I’ve gotten for years ever since I was still an all-star cheerleader,” Robarge said.

Achieving new skills is always exciting and thrilling to Robarrge. The pride in learning a new tumbling pass or perfecting a jump can enrich a round and score more points for the team. Back tucks, also known as back flips, are a popular goal across the varsity girls like Mary Banfield ’24 and Zoey Nichols ’26.

“Getting my (back) tuck was one of my proudest moments of the season,” Banfield said.

In agreement with Banfield, Nichols said her number one goal is to achieve a clean back tuck before the season ends. Cleaning skills at “Tumbling Tuesdays” is a way the team increases their chance of scoring extra points. As well as practices Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the team utilizes a whopping 10 hours a week to perfect their techniques and routines. Outside of practice, team dinners help the team bond.

“We stunt and we do a bunch of fun things,” Nichols said. “Recently, we just hang out at practice and talk to each other over the phone.”

The team gets together for sleepovers and hangouts aside from team dinners. Hanging out at sleepovers is one of Nichol’s favorite friendship-building activities to engage with her teammates. “I do think that everyone on my team can pick up fast and I think that I’m picking up fast as well,” Robarge said. “And I think that we’ll be able to put on a good show on Wednesday and this Friday.”