Recently, having competed at the state level, the esteemed Dublin Jerome cheerleading team has returned with another set of accolades in their collection. This year, the team claimed the OASSA Division I first-place titles in multiple subcategories: Building, Game-Day Building, and Non-Tumbling/Non-Building Large. These victories follow those of previous successful seasons, in which the class of '24 cheerleaders played no small part. Jerome’s current seniors have been conscientious and ambitious leaders for their team, including Sophia Kish, Addison Pochiro, Avery Casey, Kara Palmer, and Annie Herceg. Feelings of pride and confidence accompany their nostalgia for the last four years—deserved feelings, considering their recent accomplishments.

A Jerome cheerleader is multifaceted; she must possess many necessary qualities. Patience, confidence, drive, and time management are some that the current seniors find essential. The latter has been a struggle at times; Casey shares the difficulty of balancing cheer and schoolwork, especially during her academically rigorous junior year. Others found their first couple of years more challenging in this regard—simultaneously adjusting to high school academics and the demands of the meticulous Jerome cheer program is no easy task. In particular, the COVID pandemic made first years tough for these girls. Like many high school athletes, they were forced to navigate online school and modified in-person athletic commitments. Despite the immense undertaking, much is learned through affiliation with Jerome cheerleading. Kish points out work ethic and cooperation as skills she’s gained. Herceg highlights the form, describing its “limitless power” and how far it has taken her. In her case, work ethic hinders doubt. Like many of her teammates, her willingness to put in the effort has taught her that she is “capable of so much more than what (she) imagined”— a pertinent lesson. Meanwhile, Palmer finds value in the friendships she’s attained and expresses how much she’ll miss “it all”—the girls, the environment, the events…This sentiment is shared by many of the seniors with the conclusion of their final season.

Perseverance, dedication, and determination coalesce to form this idea of “drive.” It would be inadequate to call drive “important” to the Jerome cheerleaders—they recognize it as essential. To a cheerleader, drive means attending impromptu practices and working overtime to perfect routines; it means maintaining a commitment to cheer exclusively—no other sports. As rewarding as cheer can be, it is equally demanding. As Palmer describes, the girls “go full gos” at practice. They mark routines and practice stunts, adjust seemingly trivial timing and positioning mistakes…, and “practice makes perfect” is a cheer motto.

In the general scheme of things, cheer practices adhere to a similar pattern each year. The girls condition over the summer before entering football-cheer mode. Once fall runs its course, the basketball-cheer season commences, as does competition season—this is when state titles are earned. Football cheer is prioritized over basketball cheer for two reasons. Firstly, it’s simply more popular; football games have a higher turnout, requiring more cheerleading to boost morale. Secondly, basketball cheer is somewhat overshadowed by competitive cheer. Thus, football cheer is more technically advanced, and more fun team-bonding activities accompany it. Still, competitive cheer trumps all else. There are 5 teams, each unique skill-wise: Building, Non-Building, Game Day Building, Game Day Non-Building, and Non-Tumbling/Non-Building. It’s incredibly impressive that Jerome secured not just one but several of the five first-place titles.

Cheer can be dangerous. The team takes a “trial and error” approach to ensure safety when performing complex stunts. While one group is experimenting with a new move, another group takes charge of “spotting.” Nonetheless, Pochiro is not alone in her belief that “it gets worse before it gets better.” As such, readily taking criticism is imperative. Casey advises to “notice patterns” within critiques and to do whatever is in your power to improve those faults. Ultimately, encouraging each other is what leads the team to success. Especially with cheer, a sport where a mental block can significantly inhibit performance, talking each other through doubts or worries can provide an uplifting and effective support system. Because the seniors have been in the underclassmen’s shoes before, they often offer advice when appropriate. On top of that, practices are coupled with “stress exercises” to relieve some of that pressure. This and group pep talks prevent the practice from being a space of painstaking repetition. The girls are always making jokes and laughing with each other, keeping the “cheer” in cheerleading.

Conversely, the “leading” is especially demonstrated through these seniors, who have proven role models within and outside the cheerleading program. They have led various game-day cheers and executed intricate routines with poise and technique.

When given “rest days,” the cheerleaders will take advantage of them and allow their bodies to recover and prepare for the next day. Like any sport, cheerleading can greatly strain the body and pose significant injury risk if excessive physical exertion becomes routine. Luckily, Jerome's cheerleaders understand the difference between working hard and overworking. That has contributed to Jerome’s immense success, motivating the cheerleaders. When asked their “why,” referring to their reason for cheering, many attributed it to Jerome Cheer’s reputation—to put it bluntly, Jerome Cheer is not just “good” in terms of technical skills—it’s excellent, as evidenced by their numerous state titles. This adjective does little justice to the magnitude of their achievement; Jerome cheerleaders have even been invited to collegiate-instructed cheer camps at the University of South Florida. It’s not the medals or trophies that have made the experience worthwhile for these seniors—it’s the memories.

Team dinners, from OCCs to senior celebrations, are always memorable, as are senior nights. Many seniors recall the exhilaration of last year’s football victory against Coffman as a highlight of their high school cheer career. Additionally, running “cheer camp” for aspiring Jerome cheerleaders has been a rewarding volunteer experience. Though most Jerome seniors plan not to bring their cheerleading career into college with them, they certainly can bring these memories. “The team and coaches’ overall bond is unlike any other program I have participated in. The connections and memories I formed were ones I will cherish forever,” Herceg recounts. The ’24 Jerome cheer team class has left a legacy with their departure from the program. It lies in the trophies they’ve collected, the up-and-coming cheerleaders they’ve coached, and the entire Jerome community. Their spirit will remain in every tuck, toss, and toe-touch in the future.