Cheer Team Ready For State
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
However, this team will be packing pom-poms instead of basketballs.
The Warsaw cheerleaders will close out a season Saturday that began way back in August, as they cheer for the sixth-ranked Tigers, who face the Indianapolis No. 3 North Central at approximately 8:30 p.m. at Conseco Fieldhouse.[[In-content Ad]]"This has been exciting," Warsaw junior cheerleader Brittany Skibowski said. "I do get a little freaked out during the games, because I get nervous."
"The farther we go, the more excited we get," junior Cheaney Maierle said.
The girls do get just as nervous as the fans during games, but they soon have to remember they're not only there to watch the game.
"We kind of realize we're here to cheer," Skibowski said.
Before the cheering, the girls not only practice during the week, but also plan what they'll do to show their support for the guys.
"This week is about planning and preparing," head coach Karen Erba said. "The first thing we do is plan things that will directly support the basketball team. Secondly, we prepare different ways to enhance spirit in the students and the community."
In showing their support for the team, the girls have already decorated lockers and made lawn banners during this postseason. On Wednesday afternoon, the girls were putting together baskets of cookies and candy, as well as embroidered towels, all of which is paid for out of their own pockets.
"We pull together resources to get the stuff," Erba said.
After putting together the baskets or banners, the girls then get to their routines, but with time limited, much of the practice time is actually done outside of practice.
"It's helped that the team has adapted to material in the time we have," Erba said.
Following last week's 58-53 semistate win over Caroll, the girls had to be quick in planning for the state championship plans.
"We began on the bus ride home," Skibowski about the ride from Huntington. "It was then that we decided what we'd do."
The girls delivered the baskets this morning at school, and will now prepare for tonight's pep rally at 7 p.m.
"It's going to be for the community, so it's going to be a big one," Erba said.
The rally will be a big one, but it won't compare to the action Saturday inside of Conseco Fieldhouse.
Performing inside the biggest gym they ever have, the cheerleaders will have to break out some signs in order to communicate.
"The bigger the venue gets the harder it is for the crowd to hear us," Erba said.
The cheerleaders will be the focal point of Saturday's cheering, but they're aware that there will be other sources of spirit, including the cheer block and pep band.
"We make sure we work well with the other groups," Erba said. "If the cheer block is doing their 'roller-coaster' routine, we step back."
But when it's their turn, the cheerleaders work to make sure they're getting the crowd into a frenzy.
"Everything we do is to get the crowd up active and loud," Erba said.
And with the team carrying a 23-2 record this season, getting that crowd loud hasn't been too difficult.
"I feel like this year, the crowd is more involved," Skibowski said. "When you're losing, we want to get the crowd involved as much as possible. Once the guys hear the crowd, they know the community is behind them."
And with the community behind them, the Tigers will look to deliver Warsaw it's first boys basketball title since 1984.
"Our job is to unite everyone on Saturday," Erba said.
However, this team will be packing pom-poms instead of basketballs.
The Warsaw cheerleaders will close out a season Saturday that began way back in August, as they cheer for the sixth-ranked Tigers, who face the Indianapolis No. 3 North Central at approximately 8:30 p.m. at Conseco Fieldhouse.[[In-content Ad]]"This has been exciting," Warsaw junior cheerleader Brittany Skibowski said. "I do get a little freaked out during the games, because I get nervous."
"The farther we go, the more excited we get," junior Cheaney Maierle said.
The girls do get just as nervous as the fans during games, but they soon have to remember they're not only there to watch the game.
"We kind of realize we're here to cheer," Skibowski said.
Before the cheering, the girls not only practice during the week, but also plan what they'll do to show their support for the guys.
"This week is about planning and preparing," head coach Karen Erba said. "The first thing we do is plan things that will directly support the basketball team. Secondly, we prepare different ways to enhance spirit in the students and the community."
In showing their support for the team, the girls have already decorated lockers and made lawn banners during this postseason. On Wednesday afternoon, the girls were putting together baskets of cookies and candy, as well as embroidered towels, all of which is paid for out of their own pockets.
"We pull together resources to get the stuff," Erba said.
After putting together the baskets or banners, the girls then get to their routines, but with time limited, much of the practice time is actually done outside of practice.
"It's helped that the team has adapted to material in the time we have," Erba said.
Following last week's 58-53 semistate win over Caroll, the girls had to be quick in planning for the state championship plans.
"We began on the bus ride home," Skibowski about the ride from Huntington. "It was then that we decided what we'd do."
The girls delivered the baskets this morning at school, and will now prepare for tonight's pep rally at 7 p.m.
"It's going to be for the community, so it's going to be a big one," Erba said.
The rally will be a big one, but it won't compare to the action Saturday inside of Conseco Fieldhouse.
Performing inside the biggest gym they ever have, the cheerleaders will have to break out some signs in order to communicate.
"The bigger the venue gets the harder it is for the crowd to hear us," Erba said.
The cheerleaders will be the focal point of Saturday's cheering, but they're aware that there will be other sources of spirit, including the cheer block and pep band.
"We make sure we work well with the other groups," Erba said. "If the cheer block is doing their 'roller-coaster' routine, we step back."
But when it's their turn, the cheerleaders work to make sure they're getting the crowd into a frenzy.
"Everything we do is to get the crowd up active and loud," Erba said.
And with the team carrying a 23-2 record this season, getting that crowd loud hasn't been too difficult.
"I feel like this year, the crowd is more involved," Skibowski said. "When you're losing, we want to get the crowd involved as much as possible. Once the guys hear the crowd, they know the community is behind them."
And with the community behind them, the Tigers will look to deliver Warsaw it's first boys basketball title since 1984.
"Our job is to unite everyone on Saturday," Erba said.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092