By Matthew Philichi

The cheer team is one of the most overlooked and underrated teams at Bellarmine. They practice diligently and efficiently everyday after school and undergo more hours of practice than other sports teams.

July marks the commencement of the cheer season. From July until the end of basketball season (usually mid-March), they combine hard work with sacrifice to give others put-ups and cheers. Not just in sports, either. The cheer team uses their uplifting spirits to serve their community by supporting diabetes and breast cancer walks, to name a few. It is clear that the girls dedicate not only their time, but also their spirit to this program.

Becoming a part of this squad is no easy feat, either. Tryouts are commonly referred to as “hell week.” And that is ostensibly the right expression. It starts Monday morning in late May. Because no one has a guaranteed spot on the team, the veteran girls are on the same level as the young girls.

Amy Eibel, freshman on the cheer team, described it like this: “I was very intimidated by all of the ladies. They walked around with clipboards, analyzing everything I did.” The rise of the incoming freshman’s intimidation matches that of the temperature outside.

All the girls are far from “their comfort zone.” Each cheerleader is expected to workout for 3 hours each day with the squad, undergo multiple interviews with their coaches and create spirit posters for the rest of the sports teams.

While doing all of this, the girls smile from ear to ear and do not complain. When “hell week” is all said and done, the strong spirited and dedicated girls will remain and the beginning of their season will begin.

The cheerleaders have the longest season of any sport, but they don’t complain.

“Without the sports teams here at Bellarmine we would not be able to do what we love: cheer. It’s a ton of hard work but it is definitely worth it,” said senior cheer captain Miranda  Beals.