Since the end of August, last season’s cheerleading team and Andrea Goodrich, cheerleading coach, have been looking for an appropriate date for this season’s try-outs. Although the try-outs were originally going to take place in August, they will be held towards the end of October over a span of four days, from Oct. 28 to Oct. 31. The cheerleading advisor made an official SIS Cheerleading Tryout Information packet, which was made available from Oct. 1 and it will be available until Oct. 22.

“I felt like the seniors last year had a lot of control over the team and they were kind of running it,” Ms. Goodrich said. “I wanted to start the season letting all cheerleaders know that I am the one leading it, [such as] being in charge of try-outs. Last year, the try-outs were run by seniors so I’m making sure that it’s fair and equal for all the girls and boys trying out.”

Also, compared to previous years, the requirements and commitments cheerleaders have to make become much more stringent. As last year, students who are academically struggling are not allowed join the team. However, teacher recommendation forms for the application are excluded, to eliminate any problems with teachers who are filling out college recommendation forms for seniors. In addition, no students will take part in judging new recruits this year.

“Just from going to the competition last year, I saw what our competitors looked like,” Ms. Goodrich said. “I felt like if we want to compete with those teams, then we have to step up our level of competition and take it a little bit more serious and try to improve our skills. So it will be myself, [Marie Janice Lee,] fifth grade teacher and new junior varsity coach, and [Amy Thompson, last year’s junior varsity coach,] who will be judging.“

All students who are interested in trying out must attend all four days – missing one will lead to disqualification. Along with the aforementioned changes, several additions were made to the evaluation, such as tumbling, ability, technique, appearance and personality.

“The appearance section actually has nothing to do with one’s looks,” Ms. Goodrich said. “[We want to see if] you have your hair pulled back, not in your face, and whether you look all put together and you are dressed appropriately for being active, doing cartwheels and tumbling.”