As Redhawks enter the third nine-weeks, and closer to the end of school, tryouts for various school activities for the next school year are beginning to pop up.

Cheer will be holding a tryout meeting on Feb. 4 at 6 p.m.. Students who are interested in joining are required to attend and bring a parent or guardian.

“[At the meetings] we communicate tryout requirements, tryout process, cheer commitment expectations, financial obligations and camp information,” Cheer Coordinator Kandy Stevens said.

Cheer Captain, senior Carlie Schroeder, encourages students to at least attend tryouts and to have confidence.

“My biggest advice to anyone trying out for liberty cheer is to be overly prepared and overly confident,” Schroeder said. “If you don’t feel 100% confident then fake it because that’s what tryouts are all about, pleasing the judges.Don’t ever let lack of experience or skill scare you away from taking a chance!”

For junior Nicole Moros, getting to meet new friends and breaking down barriers is an essential part of being a cheerleader. 

“Going to my first ever tryout meeting was intimidating because as a freshman it was a new school with new people,” Moros said. “But, everyone was very welcoming which made it less scary when tryouts came around.”

Stevens sees numerous benefits in joining the cheer squad go beyond just the physical level, but transcends to confidence and community service. 

“There are so many benefits to being part of our program which does require intense physical activity,” Stevens said. “It helps to develop resilience and perseverance. Requires teamwork and collaboration as well as developing leadership skills. There is also a sense of inclusion and belonging as being part of a team creates a sense of community. And, as ambassadors they often represent their school or community, fostering pride and community spirit.”