Life As A Cheer Coach

Coaching Cheerleaders: More Than Just Routines

Alyssa Lovell and Porsche Sartoris

November 14, 2024

As Raven Dupilka enters her first full season as a head cheer coach she shows a little insight into her life. Ms. Dupilka is a Greater Latrobe alum who was one of the captains throughout her years of cheering at the high school. After her years at the high school, she continued her education at Penn State University. Although she did not continue her cheering career throughout college, she got her Bachelor’s in Education. As she started looking for jobs she realized she wanted to return and teach for Greater Latrobe. Ms. Dupilka teaches Law and Order, Stream Study, and Career Pathways.

Midway through her first year of teaching, Ms.Dupilka said, “I realized that after I wanted to become a teacher, I knew that coaching was also a passion.” Ms.Dupilka joined her first year starting as an assistant coach. Although soon realizing she was going to switch from being an assistant to head coach sooner than she expected she says, “I knew that I wanted to step up and fill that role.” Ms.Dupilka accomplished so much alone as the only coach for the cheerleading team. She not only got us through the 2024 basketball season, but she also got everything situated and ready for us to receive our competition routine from UCA.

Although Ms.Dupilka appreciates Laura as she says, “I have a really great assistant coach, Laura, this year, so she makes everything really easy and just has made the change flawless.”

Not only is this coach Ms. Dupilka’s first year being the head coach this is also the first year in many years that the Greater Latrobe Cheer Team will be competing. Ms.Dupilka has shown her excitement about competing throughout the entire season she said, “I’m very excited for comp season. I think I have really high expectations for my team. They put in a lot of work over the summer, throughout the school year.” Ms.Dupilka ensured that the team had a routine in early Summer so that the routine would be ready for competition season. The routine was already shown at the Homecoming Pep Rally on Friday, October 4th.

No matter how busy Ms.Dupilka is she always gives her all to the team since she is not only the head coach for Latrobe but also the head coach for the Saint Vincent cheer team. She is currently going back to school for her Masters degree in educational leadership so that she can someday become a principal. Ms.Dupilka puts so much effort and dedication into everything she does Even one of the cheerleaders on the team Sophomore Malorie Shaffer said, “I like how Raven pushes us to try hard and be our best.” Ms.Dupilka pushes us to be our best by being able to see each of our strengths and weaknesses to help the team be the best it’s looked in years.

This proves how much Ms.Dupilka cares about everyone on this team because if she didn’t care she would not care about us looking good, which is why so many people on the team and off the team care about Ms.Dupilka. Overall Ms.Dupilka is a committed, and dedicated person who makes this team her pride and joy.

About the Contributors

Alyssa Lovell, Staff Writer

Alyssa Lovell is a current senior at the Greater Latrobe High School. This is Alyssa's first year on The High Post staff. She is also involved in the Pep Club, and Interact Club, and she is also a three-year letterman for the cheerleading squad and continues to be a fourth time. Outside of school, Alyssa is on a competitive dance team, where she has been since she was five years old. She dances at The Dance Alley. Alyssa plans to attend a local college to get a degree in early education to become a first-grade teacher. She was inspired to be a teacher by her first-grade teacher Mrs. Belak. She enjoys spending quality time with her little sister. She likes to spend her free time with her friends and family. She especially wants to help her sister improve her dance skills. Alyssa is excited to have the opportunity to share people's perspectives and stories through writing. She is also excited to take pictures and write about her school and community. She can't wait to write stories about her school and her peers and is beyond excited to be a part of The High Post staff.

Porsche Sartoris, Staff Writer

Porsche Sartoris is a senior attending Greater Latrobe Senior High School. Porsche is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Link Crew, and is a cheer captain for the varsity cheer team. In her free time she enjoys going skiing, hanging out with friends, spending time with my family. This is Porsche's first year being a part of The High Post staff. She is looking forward to learning how to take better pictures and writing stories and getting to interview many people throughout the school through taking the multimedia journalism class. Porsche's goal for after high school is to attend college to become a registered nurse and hopefully work in a children's hospital. Although her career she is planning on does not involve writing much she feels this class will encourage her to write more for enjoyment and not just assignments. Porsche is extremely excited to talk to new people and learn more about those important people throughout the Latrobe community. Overall Porsche is very excited about the new things coming to this class and what all the class holds within.