This year, the Wilde Lake Varsity cheer team proved once again that they were in it to win it. The cats were crowned county champions for the second time in three years, along with being state finalists.
The cheer team was able to take first place in Counties with a score of 116.5. The cats, along with 5 other Howard County teams, earned a spot at the 2A West Regional Finals.
The cats hit their routine and earned a respective score of 118.9. This was the team’s highest score of the 2023-24 winter season.
Cheerleading, unlike other Howard County High School sports, competes in a fall and winter season. The team participates in sideline cheering along with competitive cheering throughout both seasons.
For over five years,Coach Emily Peck has worked to lead the Varsity cheer squad to victory as their coach. This year, the team consisted of cheerleaders of every grade level at the Lake.
Coach Emily sets goals for her team with a positive attitude while always encouraging them to keep going, according to senior cheer captain Makaela Mainor. Coach Em’s coaching strategy has transformed the cheer program as she led her team to Regionals for the first time in 2021.
Not only do Coach Emily’s goals play a large role in the team’s success, but teamwork is also incredibly important for the Wilde Lake cheer team.
The cheer team’s competitive routine this season featured multiple tumbling aspects, baskets, a two stunt group pyramid, jumps, and dance.
The cheer team worked through setbacks in their routine by having talks everyday and voicing their feelings and thoughts to one another, says Brejai.
These talks allowed the team to trust another, which according to junior cheer member Nina Ficca, was important to their success.
“We built a trusting relationship with each other which was important in helping us come together and succeed during the seasons,” said Nina.
Aside from serious, trust-building conversations, the cheer team members also have fun together off the mat so they can perform better on the mat. The cheer team members are very close and have fun on bus rides to and from competitions. This bonding has led the team to have a successful dynamic, according to Makaela.
According to Makaela, the team got stuck in traffic on the ride to winter Regionals this year and laughed about it together.
“Instead of stressing about the traffic, we just spent the whole time singing, dancing, and playing games together,” she said. “We were able to take that obstacle and use it as a way to bond as a team.”
Team bonding has helped the cheer team perform successfully at Counties and Regionals for multiple consecutive seasons. Looking into the future, Nina says she hopes the team’s familiar bond sticks throughout the upcoming seasons.
The team is guided not only by each other, but also my Coach Emily’s lessons, according to sophomore Brejai Adams. These lessons have created a positive mentality for the cheerleaders.
“Coach Em has taught me so many lessons,” Brejai said. “One [lesson she taught me] that I will remember forever is that no matter how many setbacks or mistakes you have, you can always do whatever it takes to reach your goals.”
Moving into next season, says she hopes the team will continue their streak of fun and successful cheer season. “I want to make sure the Wilde Lake cheer program will continue to feel like a family,” she said.
