Wakefield High School students are anticipating the Homecoming game this Friday, and it is up to the school’s cheer, dance and STEP teams to come together to ignite Wolverine pride. Over the last few weeks, these teams have been preparing for the upcoming pep rally to get students excited for the homecoming game.
Wakefield’s newest addition to the football games is a reinstated step team that has just begun their rigorous homecoming preparation, holding practice every day after school until 6:30 p.m. With the homecoming game taking place on Sept. 29, the STEP team is feeling the pressure as they put the finishing touches on their performance. Tiffany Timmons and Alison Stanfield, the two STEP coaches, are working hard to ensure their team is ready for the pep rally.
“They are practicing four hours daily,” Timmons said. “We had to cram in more practices because they have a shorter amount of time to learn the routine for the pep rally and homecoming [game].”
As each team prepares for their performances, the STEP team has uncovered an unexpected benefit of their intense preparation. Lauren Ortiz, sophomore and co-captain of the STEP team, has seen how promoting school spirit is bringing their team closer together.
“It brings us girls together when we’re dancing; [it’s] like a sisterhood,” Ortiz said. “We just support each other and try to push each other to our best ability.”
Even on a tight schedule, Wakefield’s sideline spirit teams are committed to getting students excited about homecoming, as well as building school spirit on and off the field. With over 20 new cheerleaders, Wakefield’s cheer team coaches and captains are bringing the team together to promote enthusiasm for homecoming.
“[The captains] are amazing,” Kelly Stanicek, varsity cheer coach, said. “These girls care about student involvement, and they want the students to do cheers that everyone gets excited about.”
Jada Jewell, a junior and one of the varsity cheer captains, highlights the importance of having school spirit on the field.
“I like being out on the field when [the football team] is playing,” Jewell said. “It is also a fun experience to be there with your teammates.”
The dance team is also working hard to increase attendance at the football games with new routines. Vanessa MacDonald, a senior and varsity dance team member, has seen how their performance can bring more fans to the stands.
“[Dancing] helps a lot at games, just to have someone else there cheering on and spreading spirit, on the sidelines and for the [football] team,” MacDonald said. “It also brings a lot more parents out to come watch too.”
One of the four captains of the dance team, senior Abby Crocker, highlights the energy the sidelines receive from the crowd.
“The student section will sing along [to the songs],” Crocker said. “I think the students can just have a fun time with whatever we’re putting out there and the parents love it too.”
Senior Cassidy Lair, another captain, knows how much of an important role pep rallies play in school spirit.
“We do [events] throughout the whole school year that impact school spirit,” Lair said. “Pep rallies are one of the main things we do.”
Wakefield’s sideline teams all build up school spirit in their own distinct ways. The cheer, dance and STEP teams put on activities and spread encouragement during events, such as games, to bring the Wakefield community together. They’re excited to show the community everything they’ve been preparing.
“We have been practicing every day and we’ve been trying to come up with ideas to engage and also make [cheering and games] appealing to watch,” Jewell said. “We encourage people to show up to the games and show out.”
