By Clark Campbell

They’ve got spirit, and they want you to hear it! That’s right, the Tempe Prep cheerleaders have some of the best spirit on campus (next to Mr. Lambros, of course). The Tempe Prep cheer team only began last year, but they have taken great leaps towards a brighter future.

When asked about the hopes of the team this year, head coach Vanessa Rodriguez answers with one word: “FANTASTIC!” Coach Vanessa continues, “I’ve seen how hard these girls have worked in practice, and I cannot wait.” The cheer team has nearly doubled since last year with a total of 21 girls. Out of the 21, there are seven new freshmen and two senior co-captains who are both new to the team this year. Along with these great numbers, new assistant coach Alex Haas has been a great addition to the team. Coach Alex has added a fresh set of eyes and more creativity to the team and their cheers.

With so many great installments to the cheer program, the future is extremely bright. Veteran cheerleader and Junior Hayden Wisneski believes that “As the team grows, so does our spirit.” She continues, “We are so excited for the rest of this season.”

The cheer team has already had two performances at the home football games, with four more performances remaining. The team has learned more than 15 cheers and they have started to work on a Homecoming game half-time dance. Over the summer, the team hosted a cheer camp to improve synchronization and form. During the school year, these girls have a 6 a.m. practice every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday morning.

These girls have been working extremely hard to bring up the school spirit and this hard work is sure to bring greater spirit not only to the football games but almost certainly also to the school community. The hopes for the future are bright, with so much more in store. Let’s hear it for the girls who’ve got spirit!