Sophomore Kennedy Milam cheers during the blackout game against Mansfield Sept. 15. (Photo by Reese Mallett)

Lacing shoes and reaching for their toes, the Legacy Cheer team prepares for the football game. Coach Amber Patrick leads the girls to chant lines to ensure everything is perfect. Sophomore Kennedy Milam checks her red lipstick one more time then heads to her front-row spot. She’s ready to cheer on the football team. 

“I’ve been doing cheer since I was a little kid and I’ve always looked up to high school cheerleaders. I’ve always been like ‘I want to do that’,” Milam said.

The cheer team goes home to do their hair, makeup and pick their uniform based on what the spirit captain, Ashlyn Hurta chooses before the game. A few girls fill the Sonic stalls getting snacks to prepare for the game. Each member of the team has their own designated job. Milam fills the cooler with ice and water and heads to the field.

“The way captains were chosen was in May we had a Google Doc sent out and we got to nominate people for each role. But Coach Parlin and Coach Patrick got more of a say,” Milam said. “They really wanted to see our opinions, but the coaches picked based on votes and their opinions on who had best fit.”

Once they arrive at the stadium, the cheer team takes their Instagram pictures and makes sure everything is perfect for the game. Coach Patrick leads them in clearing stunts. Any stunts and routines they can’t stick while practicing, they won’t do in the game. 10 minutes before the game, cheerleaders get in their position on the field for their introductions.

“My favorite part of game day is right before the game starts and the boys run out of the tunnel. I’m one of the flyers who hold the run-through sign,” Senior Conley Franklin, captain, said. “Game days are important to me because they are one of the more fun aspects of cheering and they help bring up the school spirit.”

During the game, the cheerleaders use their best chants to get the crowd excited. Stunts and tumbling impress the crowd the most.

“I love when the football team scores and the band plays the fight song and everybody goes crazy. I don’t have to pretend to be excited. It’s my raw reaction,” Milam said.  “I’m excited the whole game even if we’re like 40-0 because it happens very frequently.”

Senior Kira Irwin, captain, leads the routine as football players exit the tunnel at the Sept. 15 game against MHS. (Photo by Steven Dearinger)

Minutes before their halftime preformance, the Silver Spurs gather outside the football field to help each other stretch. Assistant Drill Director Alyssa Estrada gives the team counts of eight as they rehearse their Field Hoop dance one more time before halftime. When the team finishes their final practice, they circle up, cross arms and pray. The Silver Spurs spin out of their circle, and Captain Kira Irwin, 12, gets the girls into lines for the dance. 

“Game day is so much more fun than a regular school day because of the anticipation of the halftime performance,” Irwin said. “My favorite part of game day is after our halftime performance. I love seeing everyone so proud of themselves and third and fourth quarters are always the most fun to watch.”

On game day, the Spurs have time to go home, rest, eat, do homework and get into full makeup and uniform before heading back to Legacy. The team receives a different call time each week based on the games location, and when we play at Newsom, they go straight there. Irwin always sends out of check list to the girls on game day to ensure they have everything.

“Being captain on game day means that I always have to be attentive, so that I can make sure the team succeeds,” Irwin said. “There are a lot of steps when getting ready for games. I always have to make sure I have all of the pieces of my uniform, a full face of makeup, and any extra things we use at the games.”

The Silver Spurs bond on and off the field because of all the time they spend together, and all the relationship building activities they do. Drill team provides a family atmosphere and a sense of belonging for all of the girls.

“The team relationship is really like a sisterhood. Since we spend so much time together, we’re all really close and can lean on each other for anything,” Irwin said. “I tried out for drill team because I’ve always loved dance but I never felt at home dancing at a studio. Drill team gave me the best of both worlds because I got to dance while also having a group of friends to walk through high school with.”

The 17th line of Varsity Silver Spurs has 54 girls on it. Each girl attended camps and tryouts over the summer to prepare for the season. One of the 54 girls is freshman Trinitee Hall. Hall started dance when she was eight years old, and wanted to explore drill team.

“We do a lot of team bonding activities like outside of school, so I’m really close with the girls. We’re really playful with each other, but we also know when to lock-in and when to focus,” Hall said. “Our team is really close during the bus rides, and we get to really bond before the game and get hyped up.”

Each year, the Silver Spurs have a theme that their dances follow. This years theme, Full Circle, influenced their field hoop dance. The dance includes creating circle shapes with their bodies and using their hoops with silver foil hanging from the edges. The Silver Spurs practice everyday leading up to game day to ensure they’re ready to perform the routine.

“In practice, we perfect our routine for the week and make sure we’re all prepared for the game. Every game day, the officers pick girls that stood out to them that week and the girls get to wear a special sash at the game.” Irwin said. “Anytime I get to be on the field I’m happy and I make sure to soak in every moment.”