Sports

Beyond the Sidelines

The Greater Latrobe Cheerleading Experience

Alyssa Lovell and Porsche Sartoris

November 14, 2024

As the Greater Latrobe varsity cheer team has embarked on an exciting journey as they enter their first year of competition in many years. The team had their first competition at Hempfield on October 27, 2024, where they received a second-place trophy out of four teams. Although no one had expected our team out of the four to do as well as they did, the team truly exceeded expectations. This achievement was remarkable since this was the team’s very first time competing together. The girls on the team are Seniors, Sophia Bulava, Delaney Kloss, Liv Leone, Emma Lippert, Alyssa Lovell, Porsche Sartoris, and Brianna Vesely. Juniors, Arianna Cramer, Lexi Lyons, Cadence Thompson. Sophomores, Leila Halula, Mia Mirolli, Malorie Shaffer. Freshman Adia Cramer, Brynn Dumnich, Lauren Dunlap, Alexa Henchel, Brooklynn Krouse, Brianna Weaver, and Alena Weston.

The atmosphere from the Wildcat fans was filled with anticipation and excitement. All of the girls’ friends and families in the stands cheered as the girls entered the gym and ran out on the mat. The hard work that the cheerleaders had put in at both their practices and competitions was very evident. As the cheerleaders performed their 3-minute-long routine, filled with energy, precision, and teamwork the coaches cheered them on. This moment was not only a milestone for the girls but also a celebration of their first competition.

The journey doesn’t end there though. The girls are not done with their competitive season quite yet, the team will have a showcase on November 10, 2024. Unlike traditional competitions, a showcase is not an actual competition since there will be no judges present. This event is for the girls and coaches of not just our team but many other schools to show off their routines.

The cheer team had done very well at their first competition, although there are still many things to tweak and work on for the showcase and other competitions to come. While the excitement of their first competition still lingers, they are well aware that there are still many things to work on.

Based on the score sheets from the first competition the coaches and cheerleaders have identified things to improve on. The upcoming showcase is an opportunity for the team to make those adjustments. With many dedicated practices ahead, everyone on the team is committed to making those adjustments.

Although the upcoming showcase doesn’t feature any judges, the team is preparing for a critical competition on November 17, 2024, in Johnstown. This UCA Regional competition will be a huge milestone for the team, as the pressure is on for them to perform the best they have to date. If the team does an exceptional job as they plan to, they’ll earn a spot in the next rounds of the competition.

As the competition season unfolds, the cheer team’s dedication and hard work are more apparent than ever. Every practice and rehearsal has been a step toward their ultimate goals, with each member fully committed to perfecting their performance and supporting one another. The long hours, sacrifices, and resilience they’ve shown reflect their unwavering pursuit of excellence. While winning is the goal, the true strength of the team lies in their unity and passion for the sport. As they continue through the season, they know that their dedication will carry them forward, pushing them to achieve greatness both as athletes and as a team.

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.