Throughout sports history, cheerleaders have anchored the sidelines of various competitions in attempts to encourage their capacity crowds’ spirits while motivating their respective teams to victory. But what many may fail to realize, or simply underestimate, is the amount of energy, talent, and hard work that goes into a cheer routine.
Many schools across the nation boast sideline cheerleaders. Many others also send competition cheer squads out on the road to square off against the best that other institutions have to offer. In Lee County, however, spectators that are lucky enough to gaze upon the flair of the Trojans will observe that the two squads are one and the same.
“These girls are very athletic,” said Donna Jones, Lee County High School cheerleading coach. “I even have a few that compete in other sports outside of cheer. Soccer, track, volleyball, you name it. These young women are in tremendous shape and are fully capable of contributing to any sport you can imagine. But what a lot of people don’t understand is that competition cheer can be so physically demanding that other sports are out of the question.”
Cheerleading, especially of the competition type, is among the most demanding sports regarding risk of injury. Participants suffer many setbacks, and it takes the extreme care of highly-trained coaches to ensure the safety of all involved.
“Here in Lee County, these girls are putting in an unbelievable amount of work,” Jones said. “They start on the first day of summer vacation, and they go nonstop until the end of their season, which is around the middle of November. Beginning on September 17, they compete every Saturday with the only exception being Homecoming weekend.”
For the last 21 years, Jones has been a key component of the Lee County Cheer program. During her tenure, the team has earned 17 region championships and competed among the elite of the state of Georgia. Anchoring this year’s team are four seniors: Meah Bennett, Alli Jernigan, Lexus Purvis, and Hannah Saunders. For this month’s feature, In the Game Magazine spoke with each of them about their experiences with the Lee County program.
Around what age did you get involved in cheerleading?
Meah Bennett: I started gymnastics at the age of 4, but when my family and I moved to Georgia, I started cheering at age 11. I started doing competitive cheerleading for the school at age 11.
Alli Jernigan: I first got involved in cheer at Lee County Middle School in sixth grade. I haven’t left since.
Lexus Purvis: I got involved with competitive cheerleading around the age of 12. I started cheering at the end of sixth grade.
Hannah Saunders: I got involved with competitive cheerleading at the very young age of 3. My older sister was a cheerleader, and she inspired me to get into it myself.
Describe the key differences between competition cheering and cheering at sporting events.
MB: Competitive cheerleading is more difficult than cheerleading at sporting events because we have to learn a routine with difficult stunting, tumbling, and other things that go into a routine. Cheerleading at sporting events is cheering on our team, not competing against another team.
AJ: Sideline cheering is more for the team. We’re focused on pumping up the fans and getting everyone involved. When it comes to competition, we have to do a great deal of things that we don’t normally do. It’s much more demanding and physically and mentally exhausting.
LP: The key difference between competitive cheer and cheerleading at sporting events is that competitive cheer is all about the sport of cheer. It’s the excitement and butterflies you get when you’re about to compete. At sporting events, people are there to watch the sport and not the cheerleaders.
HS: When you are competitive cheerleading, you are competing with other schools to achieve a goal, while when cheerleading at sporting events, you are cheering on your school’s team and entertaining the fans.
What do you feel makes this year’s squad special?
MB: Our team this year has never been more ready for the challenge this early in the season, and I feel like we have a good bond between one another. This makes this year special and different because I have never felt more confident than this year’s cheer team.
AJ: This year, we’re a lot more team-based. We do everything together, and we’re always working to make sure that everyone improves. We all push each other to be the best we possibly can.
LP: I feel like the team bond that we share is what makes this year special. We only lost two seniors this past year, which I think has a major contribution to it. We all work 110 percent together to make the team stronger and better. At the end of the day, it is all about the team bond on and off the mat. We’re all close friends outside of cheer and hang out together. We do everything as a team. There’s only 16 of us this year, so we take that into consideration with everything we do. We all have the same mind set to be the best that we can be, and I believe that is what makes our team this year so special.
HS: What makes this year’s cheer squad special is the amount of talent we are bringing to the floor this season. What makes our team different is the ambition and determination we have to succeed. This is my 14th year as a competitive cheerleader, and I have never been a part of a more talented and motivated team.
How do you feel that, as a senior, you personally contribute to Lee County’s Cheer program?
MB: I cheered for the Lee County Middle School team for two years and have cheered for varsity for four, so I feel like I bring a lot of leadership and experience as a senior.
AJ: I’ve done my best to make sure that everyone is comfortable with what they’re doing. And I always ask for input from others to try to make sure that they feel comfortable and included on team decisions.
LP: Seniors are an important part of the team, in my opinion. As a senior, you are the leaders of the team. Your teammates look up to you and follow you, so you want to make sure you are setting a great example. We made specific plans to follow this year, and I feel like with those plans, I have contributed readiness and consistency to my team. Also, if I come into practice every day with a great attitude and the readiness to work hard, then my team will follow and have the same mindset. In my opinion, the team is only as great as their leaders. If the leaders are always consistent and work hard every single time at practice, then the team will do the same. I feel like that is what are the contributions to success.
HS: I lead and guide the team in the right direction to achieve our goals while being a mentor and a role model to my teammates.
Do you prefer one over the other (between competition and sideline cheer)? If so, which one and why?
MB: I prefer competition cheer because I love the sport and the memories it has given me.
AJ: I prefer competition cheer because of the adrenaline rush; there’s nothing like it.
LP: I prefer competition cheerleading because the feeling that you get when you’re in the hole about to take the floor, when your hard work at practice pays off at competitions, and the team bond you create is a feeling like no other. It’s a sisterhood for life.
HS: I prefer competitive cheerleading over cheerleading at sporting events because it gives me a rush. I feel that competitive cheerleading has become a part of my life, while cheering at sporting events is a fun activity.
What do you feel are the key similarities between competition cheer and other school sports?
MB: Just like other school sports, we practice every day, and we compete against other teams. We are just as determined to win as any other sport.
AJ: We definitely work just as hard. We run, we condition, and we practice five days a week. In the end, we’re just like every other student-athlete.
LP: Key similarities between competitive cheer and other school sports would be the teamwork and dedication. All sports need their players to be dedicated to what they are doing, and they need teamwork in order to succeed.
HS: Being a part of a sports team in high school teaches you discipline and how to work with and communicate effectively with others.
Do you compete in any other sports outside of cheer?
MB: I do not compete in any other sport besides cheerleading.
AJ: In the past, I have played soccer, basketball, and softball. Prior to sixth grade, I was also involved in gymnastics, but the gym where I trained closed down when I was in fifth grade, and I’ve been involved in cheer ever since.
LP: I do not play any other sports besides cheerleading. Cheerleading has my heart.
HS: No. I have tried to play other sports such as softball, soccer, and basketball, but I was always so much more committed to cheerleading.
What have been your fondest memories during your time as a member of Lee County’s Cheer program?
MB: The best memories I have from Lee County Cheer are getting to know new people who love the same sport I do. Being able to cheer on varsity my freshman year and placing fourth at state was an amazing experience. We have been Region Champs for the last three years, and I am hoping that another fond memory will be going out as a senior with four consecutive years as Region Champs and winning state.
AJ: I’ll always remember traveling to competitions and events, being on the bus, singing loudly and bonding with my friends. And it’s always a great feeling, when we win, to see the team get excited and celebrate together.
LP: My best memories of cheer would have to be winning Region Champions from 2013 to 2015 and getting called down to the floor at state and placing fourth in 2013. It is the best feeling in the world knowing that all of the hard work, tears, and sweat paid off.
HS: My best memories of Lee County Cheer are winning region for the past three years and being called to the floor at state while obtaining fourth place my ninth-grade year. I have also enjoyed the many practices with my teammates, good and bad, and cheering-on my school’s football team on Friday nights.
What are your plans after graduation? Do you plan to cheer in college?
MB: I haven’t decided if I want to cheer after high school, but I plan on attending GSW (Georgia Southwestern State University) for the first two years, and I will be transferring to FSU to major in teaching or something dealing with education. My career goals are to find something that I enjoy doing that helps others. I have even considered becoming a gymnastics or cheer coach.
AJ: I am considering possibly cheering in college, but it all depends on where I go to school. I know that I would like to major in Early Childhood Education and teach in either Georgia or Alabama (where I was born).
LP: Unfortunately, I do not plan on cheering beyond high school. I plan to go to GSW for two years and then transfer to Kennesaw for nursing. I want to get my B.S.N. and then go to medical school to become a Nurse Anesthetist.
HS: I would love to cheer in college, but fourteen years of cheerleading has put a beating on my body, and I feel it is time to move forward with my career plans. My time in cheerleading has prepared me to accomplish my life goals. I plan to attend Georgia Southwestern for my core classes and then transfer to Georgia Southern to major in Nursing.
ITG Web Content
Lee County Competition Cheerleading: Leading the Charge in South Georgia
Written by James A. Washington
Photo by Micki Krzynski
