Cheerleaders switch gears from football to basketball for winter

Those who credit cheerleading is only entertainment and consists of no athletic ability may need to reconsider their thoughts.

“If people don’t think cheerleading is a distraction, I think they should come to one of our practices,” head coach Marilyn Stripe said.

Hoban cheerleaders arise in early summer with three practices a week, including tumbling, mounting and learning dances and cheers. The girls also participate in a five-day OHSAA camping-site, which consists of cheering from 8:00 AM until 9:00 PM.

“We started practice in June to prepare for our intense cheer group,” senior Jen Kalbus said. “We trained by running the hills, doing line drills, lifting weights and dancing.”

Besides a working summer, the squad also has the longest season out of all Hoban teams. They cheer for two consecutive sports, football and basketball, and then contend in statewide competitions.

To keep up with their demanding schedule, the Knights practice three days a week. One of the practices is spent at Flawless Balance to practice tumbling and mounting. The other two days the team is forced to practice in the cafeteria because of the lack of gym availability.

“The girls pay out of their own pockets to go to Execute Balance,” Stripe said. “When we are there we practice for a hour and a half. The girls work in reality hard during this time.”

Besides being physically demanding due to the gymnastics aspect, cheerleading also has a mental facet. Just as sports teams, like basketball or volleyball, add up to up with their own plays, the team makes up their own dance routines and cheers.

“The girls make up all dance routines or add motions to prior ones,” Stripe said. “The only routine they are taught is their state competition routine.”

While the choreography is compiled together by all members of the band, the senior leadership shines. Kalbus, Cassie Balawender, Maria Chiurazzi, Amelia Marshall, Brittany Martina, Jeana Milan, Alyssa Palcko, Angela Paridon and Anne Marie Shaffer all promote to make school spirit overflow in the stands.

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