Olympic High School’s varsity cheer squad has brought home a
state trophy … again. This is the fifth time since Coach Kristie
Freeman took on the team in 1990.
The competition took place Jan. 30 at the University of Washington.
The 20-member Oly team competed in the co-ed cheer division of
similarly sized squads (non-tumbling). Here’s a video from the
team.
We asked Kristie what it takes to bust those moves. The answer is “a tremendous amount of athleticism.”
“I would say they work just as hard as any other sport in our school,” Freeman said.
The cheer season (like most fall sports) begins in the mid-summer. Besides learning routines, cheer squad members spend hours each week in conditioning, running, sit-ups, push-ups. In the video, you’ll see team members lift others in the air and deftly catch them coming down. That takes strength and coordination.
“We practice every day and sometimes Saturdays,” Freeman said
Throughout the fall, the squad takes part in regional competitions. Advancing to state requires a certain number of points, earned at lower level competitions. Meanwhile, the squad cheers on other athletes at football and basketball games. They are busy nearly every day July through January, and the season continues in February with basketball playoffs.
“I’m really proud of the kids. They worked really, really hard, and they did everything I asked them to do,” Freeman said.
This is not a sport for prima donnas. “There are no standouts. It’s a group effort,” Freeman said.
Routines are tightly choreographed. Freeman herself has never been a cheerleader. She began coaching cheer in 1978 in Raymond, Wash., when the cheer squad there needed a leader or would have folded.
“It is very time consuming, but it’s a passion,” Freeman said. “I’ve always had a passion for cheer. I love it.”
Congratulations, Oly cheer squad. You rock.
