JDHS cheer team builds character, friendships for life
- Klas Stolpe
- 26 minutes ago
- 10 min read
Crimson Bears cheer athletes put in long hours of work for short minutes on the court
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
It may be easy to think cheerleading is not a sport…The attitude, big smiles, sparkles and pom poms…until you watch the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cheer team complete three minutes of a floor routine.
“Cheerleading is more than a sport,” JDHS senior Megan Pierce said, the sweat of practice punctuating her words. “It is a catalyst for growth. By striving for daily improvement and with the support of my teammates, I am becoming a better athlete and a more resilient person. To me, cheer means opportunity. Opportunity to grow, to learn, to build lasting friendships and to become the best version of myself.”
Three minutes on the gym floor for a fight song: that is longer than some basketball players are in a game before being substituted. It can be longer than a football team’s series of plays. And their shorter routines are sometimes more strenuous.
“Cheer has helped me to be more rounded and available wherever I can be of use,” senior Jonah Mahle, an all-state football lineman, said. “And has made me a better student athlete with more discipline.”
Lifting and holding 90- to 140-pound teammates overhead is no easy task.
“Cheer has made me a better student-athlete through hard work and the power of friendships,” added all-state football lineman Ricky Tupou.
Yes, three minutes may come just once in a game, but around it are the constant motions on and off the floor, the team introductions, the timeout floor cheers, the jumps and lunges, the sideline cheers, the mental attentiveness to elevating their school’s reputation, and the physical stress of standing for roughly two hours.
“Cheer to me means much more than encouraging school spirit,” senior Audrey Yu said. “Through cheer I have learned important skills beyond cheer and stunting, that I will carry as I grow as a person. I am now part of a community where we will always push each other to our best whether they are our competitors or not. I have made so many incredible memories and friendships through this sport and I am grateful to my coaches, teammates, family and alumni as this would not be possible without them.”
The official cheer season runs from Dec. 3 through March 22.
Fans only see the progressive results of the off-season work. The sweat typically begins at the end of May with optional open gyms focused on conditioning and drills for skills. During June and July, the team continues open gyms and prepares for summer camp. Preseason open gyms then typically start at the end of August and run until the season starts.
“Being a JDHS cheerleader has meant so much to me,” senior Karina San Miguel said. “The second I saw an alumni, whose mom ran the daycare I used to go to, practicing sideline dances, I felt like I knew in the back of my head that I would end out on the team someday, and that thankfully worked out. Cheerleading has taught me self-discipline and what it truly means to work for something that you want, even when you feel like it’s impossible. It’s given me a second family and lifelong friends that I would not trade for the world. Although my cheer career is almost over, I know that the family I have gained from cheer will continue to grow with me onto all of the next chapters of our lives.”
For the past six years, the program has attended UCA Cheer Camp in Tacoma and Portland at the end of July. Camp serves as a critical benchmark, allowing the team to measure its skill level against programs from competitive regions and determine whether pursuing national-level competition is appropriate for the season. In addition to skill assessment, camp provides team bonding, extensive learning opportunities and is a required component for teams pursuing nationals.
“Cheer means the world to me, since it pretty much is my world,” senior Hadley Bex said. She made the cheer transition from now-defunct Thunder Mountain High School to JDHS in the school merger. “I have made so many friends throughout Alaska because of it. I have definitely changed a lot as a person because of cheer, learned to be more respectful and to be more confident in what I do. As a student, it helped me learn to be better about my grades and turn in my work on time. I never would have thought three years ago that I would be going to JDHS and cheering. It has all been a great experience for me and I am so glad TM and JD merged. Overall, It has helped give me fun new experiences, introduce me to amazing new people, and helped me grow into a better person over my high school career.”
During the season the “outside the gym” hours go unnoticed by the public. Athletes practice Monday through Wednesday from 6 p.m.–9 p.m. Each three-hour practice is structured to maximize efficiency and athlete development. A typical practice includes 45 minutes of conditioning, 15 minutes of skill drills and 15 minutes of team discussion. The remaining time is dedicated to game material, including cheers, dances, floor material, stunting, competitive routine skill building and full-out performances.
“Cheer at JDHS has meant a lot to me because it helped me grow and be more confident,” senior Mati Iona said. He also played linebacker on the football team. “I was nervous at first, but it became like a family. It taught me to work hard, trust my teammates and not give up when things get hard. Cheer made me stronger physically and mentally and helped me believe in myself.”
Thursdays are dedicated to game preparation, consisting of conditioning, skill drills, team communication and full reviews of all game-day material, including starting five, time-out cheers, school song, dances and sideline cheers. If time allows, competitive routines are reviewed.
“Cheer has meant so much to me,” senior Simon Iputi said. “It has been a place where I have built confidence, learned leadership, teamwork and made lifelong friends. Through JDHS cheer, I have grown not just as an athlete, but as a person, becoming more disciplined and more structured. It has helped me learn so much about myself as a teammate and outside of cheer it has taught me life lessons and taught me the value of dedication and hard work. I am truly eternally grateful for this amazing sport.”
On game days, cheerleaders arrive 90 minutes prior to tipoff, take the floor 30 minutes before the game begins and remain active on the floor or in the gym until the conclusion of the game. This means on back-to-back games — 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. starts — cheer members can be on the floor for four to five hours, burning 300–450 calories per hour during moderate activity, and 650–900 calories per hour during high-intensity stunting and competitive routines.
Athletes are expected to demonstrate a strong work ethic, coachability and mental toughness, physical fitness and body control, adaptability, and most importantly a team-first mindset.
“Without cheer I would not be the person I am today,” senior Arely Vera Garcia said. “It has given me unforgettable friendships, helped me grow emotionally and has taught me how to be confident, strong and passionate in all I do. Throughout my journey, and the people I have gotten to share this experience with, it has shaped me into a better version of myself, and I will forever carry that with me.”
All choreography is completed within the first two weeks of the season, including routines for regions and state competitions, school/fight songs, and any national-level material. Cheers and dances are adjusted throughout the season based on team strengths, any injuries and performance needs. Dances are designed to be versatile and compatible with any pep band songs.
“Joining cheer made me realize that cheer is an entire different experience rather than just a sport,” senior Renz Hill said. “It shaped me into the person I am today and also my view on cheer.”
This year’s team currently knows 45 cheers, seven dances, three time-out cheers, the school/fight song, the first-quarter band chant and the six national-level routines.
“What cheerleading meant to me is that I worked very hard and put in a lot of effort,” senior Marlee Gines said. “Growing up, I have been practicing and remembering a lot of cheers as a student through JDHS Cheer.”
The team meets after every game and competition to evaluate performance, identify areas for improvement and discuss adjustments moving forward. Because basketball is fast-paced and unpredictable, consistent game exposure is necessary for athletes to gain confidence and cohesion.
After competitions, score sheets are reviewed in detail to apply judges’ feedback and refine routines. Cheerleading is inherently subjective, making it essential for athletes and coaches to stay current with trends in stunting, choreography and judging standards. The coaching staff attend annual conferences and continue education to ensure the program remains current, informed and athlete-focused.
Cheerleading is the ultimate team sport. The absence of even one athlete can impact stunt groups, limit repetitions and require immediate adjustments. Consistent attendance, accountability and commitment are essential to the success and safety of the entire team.
“I have made so many friendships through cheer that I would not change it for anything,” senior Kira Tupou said. “Joining cheer has made me realize how much effort and dedication truly goes into executing our routines out on the floor. Throughout my time on the JDHS cheer team it has taught me that all our hard work really does pay off.”
JDHS has no team captain. Everyone plays a role of leadership. The team includes seniors Hadley Bex, Marlee Gines, Renz Hill, Mati Iona, Simon Iputi, Jonah Mahle, manager Shaelyn Martinez, Karina San Miguel, Megan Pierce, Kira Tupou, Richard Tupou, Arely Vera Garcia and Audrey Yu; juniors Claire Babcock (mascot ‘Mac’ the bear), Lumi Fermin, Aidan Lazo-Chappell, Rylie Mulkey, Alexa Scarano, football quarterback Krew Ridle and wrestler Camden Messmer; sophomores Viviana Flores and Laura Parker; freshmen Adriana Blanton, Mae Butler, Azriel Cristobal, Josselyn Davis, Hope Scharen and Roxanna Vetrano; and coaches Nore, Colby Sanders, Reuben Grimes and Chelsea Kilgore.
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you,” junior Alexa Scarano said.
The Crimson Bears cheer seniors will be honored Friday inside the George Houston Gymnasium immediately after the 5 p.m. JDHS girls game against Tri-Valley and before the 7 p.m. boys game. Dance team seniors will also be honored at this time. JDHS basketball and pep band seniors will be honored between games on Saturday.
“What cheer shows and means to me is all the dedication, commitment and effort put into it as well as teamwork,” senior manager Shaelyn Martinez said. “Personally for me it pushed me to do things I would have been to shy and introverted to do years ago. It has helped me build stronger connections with my peers and also let me get a look into how they all work and come together in a team sport/professional setting, despite all being different ages or from different settings or age groups.”
For JDHS coach Carlene Nore, senior night is always a busy one.
“Between games, performances, and acknowledgments, there is rarely enough time to truly reflect on our seniors and what they mean to the team,” Nore said. “That is why taking a moment beforehand feels so important… This year’s seniors have brought so much to our program: joy, work ethic, leadership, and resilience. Some have been a part of this team for four years, and it has been amazing to watch their growth, confidence and maturity develop season after season. Others joined more recently, and it feels like I have just begun to truly know them and now our season is quickly wrapping up. No matter how long they have been on the team, each of them has made a lasting impact. They have helped shape the culture of this team, supported their teammates, and represented with respect and pride. They have set the bar high and challenged others to rise up. To our seniors, you will always have a place in my heart. I hope you look back on your time and years and remember not only the big fun moments, but also the challenges, the lessons, the laughter, and the bonds you built. Every high and every low helped shape you into the person you are today. I know you can handle anything you put your heart into.”
This year’s team achieved one of their pre-season goals in January, qualifying for the USA Spirit Nationals in Anaheim, California. Last week they added to that accomplishment by winning a nationals championship there as they excelled in six events, including four-person stunt group, crowdleader/game day and show cheer/traditional routines.
“Preparing for nationals and state competitions requires a significant commitment,” Nore said. “And the team spent most of the preseason fundraising to make these opportunities possible.”
They still have a fundraiser remaining, the annual Spaghetti Feed and Dessert Auction from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., March 15 at the Moose Lodge on Old Dairy Road. Cost is $15 per person. Tickets can be purchased from a team member or at the door. It will help with the next goal.
In addition to qualifying for nationals, the team’s goals this season include winning regions on March 14 in the George Houston Gymnasium and defending their fifth consecutive state title on March 17 at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center.
It should only take three minutes, but it has been built on a lifetime of preparation.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
