Cheer Keeps the Spirit Beyond The Sidelines

Even as the football season comes to an end, the 2022-2023 year is only just the beginning for the PHS cheer team.

This year looks quite different from last year. Not only did 18 of their members graduate but the team had to adjust to new coaching styles from coaches Lili Levy and Tawni Eads. Some of the shifts may be quite beneficial for the team. “Our competition team will be made up of both JV and varsity athletes which gives us as coaches a great opportunity to work with athletes we don’t necessarily get to work closely with during the rest of the season,” said Levy and Eads in a joint email.

Cheer captain Kayla Kesterson, junior, said, “I would describe the 2022-2023 season in one word: adaptable. It’s truly admirable that these athletes are continuing to exceed expectations under these circumstances.”

After sideline season ends with football, some athletes choose to prolong their time cheering, with nationals in Los Angeles being their last competition.

Other PHS cheer athletes practice routines for the basketball team as a part of the dance team during their time off of cheer, which is led by JV coach Miranda Sjoberg.