As the state cheer competition approaches on the 16 of January 2026 continuing through the weekend, our school’s varsity cheer team has been working tirelessly to perfect their routines. MS caught up with team members Janey Young, Sarah Bowers, and Italy Erickson to get a glimpse into the hard work, challenges, and excitement leading up to the big event.
Janey Young explained that balancing routine perfection with supporting other school groups like basketball and wrestling has been difficult. The team has maintained weekend morning practices most Fridays and Saturdays for months. While most routines are typically learned by November, the approach to state brings heightened stress from last-minute adjustments to formations, stunts, and cheers. Young emphasized the pressure of condensing months of preparation into just a few minutes of competition. She concluded by noting that performing at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper “in front of so many people is almost magical—it’s definitely the highlight and makes all the hard work worth it.”
Senior Sarah Bowers reflected on the season as a whole. She said, “This cheer season has been hard, especially it being my senior year and having to leave my family.” Despite the challenges, she emphasized her love for her cheer family and the memories they’ve created together. Bowers identified injuries and team illness as major obstacles, explaining that sickness spreads quickly through the group. When teammates are absent, the squad must adjust formations and stunts, often having someone fill in or marking stunts instead of performing them fully. Looking ahead to state, Bowers expressed optimism about their routines and believes the team has a strong chance of placing first or second. However, she emphasized that their main goal is simply to have fun and make memories together.
Italy Erickson shared insight into how the team prepares day-to-day: “A typical practice starts with a good warm-up and stretch, then we spend most of the time going through both our game day routine and our all-girl routine. I think we’re getting there overall—we just need to clean up some of the details and sharpen things, but we’re in a good spot heading into state.”
With months of preparation behind them and strong team spirit driving them forward, our cheerleaders are ready to take the stage at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper. Fans can expect precise routines, high energy, and plenty of school pride as the team competes for top honors.
