The Blue and White interviewed the Apopka High School cheerleading team with student-athletes Shila Gilis, a junior, and Senior Mia Miller, and Bercegeay the faculty coach.
Ms. Bercegeay begins by explaining how fun last summer was during cheer camp given that there were some new changes. “Our plans for this season changed. We went to an away summer camp for varsity with UCA. We got to stay at the UCF dorms and spent a few days there, having them teach us. Our JV and freshman teams had UCA come in and do their camps this year which is different from the past. [We] learned a lot of new skills. [We] had a lot of fun with those instructors coming in and that was different, something we’ve never done in the past.”
In addition to the Apopka Cheerleading team attending camp, they also hosted and attended some activities with the community. Ms. Bercegeay describes that experience: “We had a kiddie camp again this summer where we invited the community to come in with their little ones and we taught them to your stance dances. Parents could come in at the end of the week and watch their children perform. So that was different this year. We will be attending a UCA and UCF day where our girls get to perform on their football field during halftime doing a routine in the middle of the UCF game. We are also marching with the band this year to the cherry blossom parade. So that’s exciting for us.”
A lot of things are changing for the better this year as the cheer team tries new things.
“We are going to be attending some bigger competitions than we have in the past. We’re going to be spreading our wings a little bit to see how we do. So we’re pretty excited about that more to come on. The thing that I’ve liked the most to share about this cheer team is the camaraderie. I feel like there’s been a lot of cohesiveness within the girls. I also have more coaches on staff which has helped a lot with the stress of having to do everything. The girls have been great this year they’ve been getting along with all the teams coming together. It’s been a great year so far”, explained Ms. Berecgeay.
The head cheerleading coach also gave some advice to anyone thinking of trying out for cheerleading next spring.
“My advice to anyone wanting to try out for cheerleading is to start gaining skills that are needed for our cheer team. Such as stunting, dance, flexibility, sharp motions spirit, and tumbling are not necessary but it doesn’t hurt for you to know tumbling. You can gain a lot of these skills by going to a gym. It’s not necessary, but it does help. I also recommend not waiting till the week of tryouts to start working on these skills. I do recommend working on them all year long. If that is your desire to try out for cheerleading. [You need] teacher recommendation so you got to be good in the classroom and [be a] well-rounded student because it’s just not based on your skills, it is based on having good character and following school rules. Those all come into play when you’re trying out.”
The Blue and White also interviewed Junior Shila Gillis who’s been cheerleading with Apopka Since she was a freshman. Having cheered previously in middle school, The Blue and White asked her opinion about her cheerleading experience and hopes for this year’s season.
As she begins, “I really wanted to be involved in a sport at the school, and I had a lot of other friends who were trying out at the end of eighth grade, so I wanted to join them so we could all have something together after school. I really hope to work on stunting, so we can get an extension down in other tricks like in the air because I’m one of the cheerleaders that has to carry the girls, so I want to know how to do different techniques.”
Shilia continues by saying, “I enjoy being a part of the school spirit, especially on Friday night games, more specifically, the home games. I really feel a part of everything, and it’s fun to cheer on the football players and interact with the students section and other people sitting in the stands. It’s definitely a time commitment. I also really think that you need to know how to work with people and be cooperative. We need to have some sort of flow. So I think if you can work well with others then you’ll do really well on the team. Everyone is extremely hardworking and they’re determined, and they’re aggressive in a good way. Like they want to get things done. And I feel like specifically this year I’ve noticed that with the girls on our team.”
Senior Mia Miller, a varsity cheerleader, gives her input on why she loves cheerleading: “I love that we all get along as like best friends with one big family and as like we’re all different, like friend groups and age groups.
My plans for this year are just to have fun and really good impact and be a good example for the underclassmen looking up to me. Just as long as you’re doing what we’re supposed to do, our coach let’s just really be free and have fun. My favorite part about camp was that I think before we went to UCA we were all in a lot of tents. And everybody was kind of segregated and not really being together as one. I think after camp we kind of just got out of our bubble and we all came together, and I think it’s just a good bonding experience and a really good learning experience of how we want it to be as a team. I’ll enjoy it because this is my last year being a senior.”
It’s been established that being a cheerleader takes some reflection on your personal dynamics and goals. Doing so turns into a fun bonding and learning experience while also creating memories you’ll never forget.
