HHS cheer has enjoyable with bigger roster

A 12 months in the past presently, the Hopkinton High School winter cheerleading group solely had six women categorical curiosity in taking part. This 12 months, the Hillers have already got 19 athletes hoping to hitch the squad. The sharp uptick in participation is a continuation from the autumn marketing campaign, stated coach Allyson Link.

“The goal of increasing interest has been achieved,” Link stated. “To go from six last year to 19 this year is a crazy jump.”

During the autumn season, Hopkinton fielded two groups. All 22 athletes on the group took half within the sideline group, cheering throughout soccer video games. A complete of 12 women fashioned the competitors group, tasked with attempting to get the Hillers deep into the autumn season via the Tri-Valley League, regional and state meets. Even with a much bigger roster, the primary competitors of the 12 months was a problem, Link stated.

“We had a lot of injuries,” she stated. “But we hit a clean routine against some good teams.”

Since that competitors in October, the Hillers had been in a position to get more healthy and likewise add extra issue to their routine. All season alongside, they’ve relied closely on their three captains: seniors Jordyn Richard and Katie DellaCioppa and junior Katherine Martinez. The veteran management has been particularly vital with a group that includes a number of new athletes.

“We don’t have any freshmen on the competition team, but we do have two girls who had not cheered before they made the team,” Link stated. “We have quite a few new people, which is great. They are doing really well. It’s crazy to have eight or nine juniors choose to come out for the cheerleading team for the first time. The team almost doubled in size, and it’s really cool.”

Hopkinton does have two freshmen on the sideline group, and 4 sophomores competing.

The Hillers began the autumn trying to construct on the success they’d final 12 months throughout the competitors season, when the Hillers earned a wild card spot to make it to the state meet for the primary time in 9 years. But having two groups, which was not the case for Hopkinton final 12 months, additionally has taken a few of the strain off of the athletes who are usually not competing and allowed them to have extra enjoyable, Link stated, and improved the general group morale.

“I have really tried to make them more visible on social media,” she stated. “We have been going to more community events and performing. I am trying to get them involved in things to make it more fun and, with two teams, there is an opportunity to do fun things.”