Something to cheer about

More than 50 kids taking part in local cheer group

Del Norte Youth Football AA cheerleader Sami Aguirre, A Gold cheer member Brittany Cavyell and AA cheerleader Kailee Coopman during a game at Mike Whalen Field at Del Norte High School on Sunday. (The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson)

The members of the Del Norte Youth Football A Gold squad were working on a stunt in which  team member Kenzy Harrison was lifted up by her teammates and caught under the watchful eye of  the coaches.

For Harrison, being a cheerleader has been an exciting experience.

“I like that we get to cheer and do stunts,” the 8-year-old said. “I like that we get to go backwards and go up high.”

AA cheerleader Kailee Coopman, 11, said it takes a lot of work, athletic ability and strength  to do many of the cheer routines.

For instance, she is one of the girls who helps to hold and lift up  teammates during certain cheer routines. This takes a fair amount of strength since they need to have a firm hold on their teammates so they are able to perform their routines.

“It makes me pretty happy I’m  strong enough to do that,” she said. “It’s been fun.”

For more than 50 local kids as young as 5 years old up to age 14, the DNYF cheer program is a great way to learn the sport, with many former members now performing with local middle schools and at Del Norte High.

Each Sunday, wherever the DNYF football team is playing, the cheerleaders can be found rooting for their team.

Lisa Hardy, the cheer coordinator for DNYF, said cheer is a terrific way for these girls to build up their self esteem and learn about the importance of working together as one unit and being healthy and fit from an early age.

“It’s a great foundation if they want to continue to cheer,” she said, adding that the majority of the cheerleaders at the local middle schools came from the DNYF program. “It’s really just a lot of fun to watch them learn and see them building up their confidence.”

Robyn Holt is the head cheer coach for the A Gold team.

After coaching for a number of years this is is her first year back as a cheer coach. She said that it is an incredible group of kids and parents that she is working with, and she has been impressed with the way the team has strived to do the best they can.

“It’s been great because they are all just so eager to learn,” she said.

A major event is coming up that all the cheer groups are gearing up for. They will take part in a cheer competition where they will compete against fellow cheer teams from throughout the area. It will take place on Nov. 7 at Eureka High School.

Holt said the girls are excited to be able to finally compete and show to the judges and the crowd all they’ve learned.

“It’s kind of our championship,” she said

This year, members of the high school cheer teams are helping out.

Jaclyn Sandler, 14, is helping with the routines of the A Gold team. She said it has been an “amazing experience” being able to share her knowledge and passion for her sport with the next generation of cheerleaders.

Sandler said the girls have been willing to learn and have enjoyed learning cheers and especially some of the stunt routines, which she said they have done a good job  with.

“I love working with the children,” she said. “They are really picking things up well.”

“We couldn’t do it without the high school girls,” Holt said, adding that their help has been invaluable, especially in teaching the girls the routines for the cheer competition. “It’s been a real group effort.”