Sideline cheerleading is the supporting backbone of any sports event, focused on getting everyone excited and supporting their classmates with spirited cheers and energetic performances. It’s all about reacting to the game’s flow and keeping the fans engaged. Transitioning into competitive cheerleading, however, marks a leap into a world of rigorous competition and training. A Greater Latrobe Varsity cheerleader needs to be extremely determined, not willing to give up, and have a growth mindset. The team also has to be motivated to work hard and be willing to challenge themselves. 

As May unfolds, practices include basic stunting to identify compatible stunt groups and solidify competition lineups. The intensity ramps up in June with the arrival of UCA Cheer Camp, where a UCA instructor immerses the team in rigorous training from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. over several days. During the camp,  they start to develop their routine and set the stage for subsequent regular practice. Throughout the cheer season, practices consist of conditioning, stunting, and mastering their competition routine or their game day plans, demanding a rapid understanding of material. With practices scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for two hours each, the team members face a demanding workload, often requiring them to study and memorize cheers at home to be prepared by the time football season begins.

Every girl on the team plays an important role, especially the captains. The captains of the team are Arianna Cramer and Lexi Lyons. Lexi has been cheering since 2023 and has always been dedicated and passionate about her position on the team. Her efforts paid off when she was designated captain her senior year.  

“So, our practices are definitely more intense, and we have to focus a lot more. We have two practices a week for two hours, and we just cut back on the talking and we really just lock in for those two hours,” Cheer captain, Lexi Lyon,s stated. 

Latrobe Cheerleading has just joined the competitive circuit in 2024, making its squad a team that participates in competitions. In the 2024-2025 season, they competed in the Game Day category, which consists of a Band Chant, Crowd leading section situational sideline and cheer, and a Fight Song. This year, they have transitioned into a traditional routine. 

“We have always been a regular sideline cheer squad for a while, but last year we started competing for the first time as a game day team. Then this year, we started doing traditional because we saw how much improvement our team was making, and I feel like we’re like better suited for this kind of competition. I think it’s just more fun, and it’s really upbeat, hyper, and gets super intense,” said Lyons. 

A traditional routine consists of a two-minute and thirty-second routine featuring a mix of tumbling, stunting, and pyramids performed to music, along with a cheer section for crowd engagement showcasing the team’s skills, including dance and jumps, judged on difficulty, execution, and synchronization, debatably harder than Game Day. The team’s goals for this year, being their first time competing in the traditional division, are to do the best they can. 

Coach Dupilka, who has been coaching for 4 years, has some expectations for the team.

“I’m not expecting them to go out and win as it is our first year, really competing in this division. But I do expect them to go out, try their hardest, and try to hit zero.” Coach Dupilka states. 

Coach Dupilka also highlighted the importance of WPIALs, where the athletes will push to obtain one of the top ten spots to move onto the PIAA Competitive Spirit Championships on January 30 and 31 at Santander Arena in Reading. 

Not only is this the team’s first year competing in the traditional category, it’s also Coach Dupilka’s first year coaching it. When she was in high school, the team tried to start up a competition team but ultimately had two coaches resign, having the fall short of the competition. Although she hasn’t hit the mat herself, she knows how and what it takes to be involved in a routine from working with UCA and Varsity on routines, and continues to gain experience by learning from them. 

Communication with athletes and parents is maintained through the Band app, where schedules are delivered, the competition scores are shared, and then analyzed to identify areas of improvement. The team also organizes regular parent meetings to keep everyone updated. 

Building a sustainable program starts at the Junior High level, incorporating stunting into varsity tryouts, and setting high expectations to attract dedicated athletes who are committed to competing and improving. 

The long-term vision for Greater Latrobe Cheerleading is to foster a culture where cheerleading is taken seriously, recognizing the hard work and dedication these athletes put in. They balance game appearances with their vigorous competition schedules as well.