GHS students, as you may already know senior high cheer tryouts are right around the corner. This is a very exciting and nerve-racking time for returning cheerleaders and new upcoming cheerleaders. 

April 30th and May 1st will be clinic days. Clinic days are days when the students who want to try out can come to a practice to learn the try-out dances/cheers. During these practices, students interested can get tips from returning cheerleaders. 

On May 2nd there will be a mock tryout day. Mock tryouts will be a practice where students interested can go over what the tryouts are going to be like. Participants will get to do this in front of their peers so their peers can give tips on what they can do better. 

May 3rd will be the actual tryouts. All of these events will take place after school from 3:30-5:30. If any students are interested, they will need to look for a flyer that says “Gentry High School Cheerleading Tryouts,” On this flyer, they will see a QR code. They will need to scan this code and answer some questions to get put on the trying-out list. Current 9th, 10th, and 11th graders are eligible to try out. 

Principal Mr. Blanchard said, “Cheerleaders play a very important role in our school climate. In many ways, they guide our level of school spirit. They have their own competition season where they work to showcase their skills at various competitions around the state. It’s a tough job and I’m proud of those who take the floor!”

Sophomore Alissa Nelson, who has been cheering for 5 years, said, “Some advice I can give to the new-coming cheerleaders is always to use your full voice. In cheer, you have to be loud and proud 24/7! I am hoping to see a lot of confidence at tryouts, and hopefully, a lot of people trying out!”

Cheer coach Kaylin Lynch said, “Candidates will be judged on motion technique, jump technique and height, crowd leading, voice projection, memory/timing, tumbling, and overall effectiveness. Cheerleaders are held to the highest standards of leadership, character, and cooperation as they are the leaders of our school spirit and sportsmanship. Therefore, teacher evaluations and grades will be considered when determining the cheerleaders who will make the squad.” 

Junior Lauren Venske said, “Advice I would give incoming students who are trying out would be to give it your all, especially if they’ve never cheered before. Students should also put in full effort and be coachable; this shows that you really want a spot on the team. My hope as an upcoming senior for this year is to have a team that’s like family. Whether we win or lose, I want everyone to be excited to come to practice and feel as though they always have a team that loves and cares for them!”

If any students are interested and have any questions, please contact Kaylin at klynch@gentrypioneers.com. If students are interested in trying out, make sure to look for the flyers around campus.