Trying Cheerleading for the first time!

First Impressions: It’s Way More Complex Than It Looks
Let’s start with the roles – because wow, I had no idea how structured and technical cheerleading actually is. I used to think it was just “pick someone up,” but now that I look back… that thought was painfully oversimplified.

Here are some of the main roles:
Captain – the one who organizes and leads the team
Flyer – the person who literally flies
Base – supports the flyer and lifts them up
Spotter/Backspot – protects the flyer’s head and neck in case of a fall
Tumbler – the gymnast who does flips, somersaults, and all the cool rotating things

So yeah… it’s definitely NOT “grab a person and throw them.” It’s a whole system of strength, timing, and trust.

My Experience: Nervous but Excited!
When I first arrived, I couldn’t stop thinking:
“Are they seriously going to pick me up and make me a flyer?” I mean, I’m relatively light… but still. Thankfully, they put me in the base role instead, helping the flyer stay stable and lifted. And honestly? I think I did a pretty good job – by my standards, anyway.

The stressful part was knowing that if I messed up, someone could get hurt. But the team knows how risky it can be for beginners, so they assigned spotters in every direction, massively reducing any danger. That gave me a lot more confidence.

A Strong and Competitive Team
The cheerleading team isn’t just friendly – they’re highly competitive too. In fact, they recently won the ICC National Championships in 2025. So if you’re into a sport that mixes teamwork, trust, strength, and some serious gymnastics in the air… this team is definitely worth joining.

Final Thoughts
The captain and the rest of the team were incredibly friendly and welcoming. They encouraged me the entire time, and honestly, I left feeling like cheerleading is a sport that pushes you – but in the best way possible.

If you want to challenge yourself, try something totally different, and maybe even fly (or lift someone who does), cheerleading might be the perfect fit!