Every year, the cheerleaders support each of Yutan’s sports teams as they adjust to the start of a new season, but the cheer team is making adjustments of their own this year, starting with new cheer coach Ivy Slepicka. 

Slepicka was interested in the position because she had been on the cheer and dance team throughout high school and loved it. When the opportunity arose, she decided to take it, starting with specific goals in mind.

“I think the biggest goals this year are learning—I am learning cheers and dances along with the freshmen cheerleaders. I’m also learning the school traditions and what all is involved with the different events and activities throughout the year,” Slepicka said.

Even though she’s learning the procedures at Yutan, she has already made some changes.

“We added in some things during Homecoming—the cheerleaders made each of the senior fall athletes a poster and hung them in the Senior hallway and then along the fence for the football game, and put together goodie bags for each of the fall athlete seniors as well,” Slepicka said.

Because the cheerleaders enjoyed recognizing fall athletes, they plan to do the same for winter and spring sports.  

“For the winter sports, we plan to make posters recognizing them and plan to specifically acknowledge seniors,” freshman Zailey Slepicka said.

Another change is adding cheers that they can do when the band is playing and when there is a first down.

“We’re making some new first down cheers, and then currently we’re making new sideline dances,” junior Halle Arlt said.

Slepicka is also trying to help the cheerleaders elevate their cheers by recording their cheers and posting them on sports sites so the cheerleaders can practice at home, as well as monitoring their performances during games.

“I make notes during the games to correct anything during practice in preparation for the next game,” Slepicka said.

This is especially helpful for the five new freshman cheerleaders who are still learning the cheers and dances.

“You have to put a lot of effort into making sure you have all your cheers down,” freshman Hayleigh Darling said.

Even though the fall season is winding down, their work is not done.

“We are continuing to practice and learn cheers, switching gears soon to focus on basketball season,” Slepicka said.