Maverick Cheer is Dynamite

Cheering at volleyball matches is a new experience for the Cheer team this fall and is gaining a lot of traction and appreciation. Both Girls and Boys Volleyball coaches value the presence of Cheer at their matches.

It’s been fun having Cheer at volleyball matches,” said Head Girls’ Volleyball coach Shelbi Irvin.  “We are a high-energy group and the cheerleaders are behind our bench fueling us on.”

“It makes it feel like a home-field advantage,” said Head Boys’ Volleyball coach Chaz Hulet. “We’ve loved it.”

The Cheer team enjoys being part of the volleyball experience as well. 

“It is fun to come up with new cheers and to be in a different environment,” said co-captain Aspen Toussaint ’25.

The Cheer program’s move from club team to Varsity sport, initiated by Athletic Director David Cohn, has been enthusiastically received. 

“When I stepped into the role of Director of Athletics, I began to look at how we could maximize and enhance the student-athlete experience across our entire department,” said Cohn. “Cheer emerged as a program that promotes school spirit, fosters community, and elevates the overall student-athlete experience. After conversations with Coach Hunt about the program's history and operations, it became clear to me that merging the Cheer Program with our Athletic Department and making it a varsity sport was a no-brainer. The team, both JV and Varsity, works incredibly hard, strives for excellence, and represents the St. John's community to the highest standards. This decision is a testament to the dedication, commitment, and effort of Coach Hunt, Coach Robbio, and the entire team."

Cheer is now on par with all of the varsity programs. With more practice time allotted during the season, the team can hone their skills and routines and focus on special stunts for the St. John’s - Kinkaid Varsity Football game. The bonds between teammates are stronger than ever. 

 

“My favorite thing about cheer is the close relationships that I form with my teammates,” said Toussaint. “When we are quite literally trusting one another with our lives, our bonds become really tight really quickly. There is no better feeling than when your stunt group finally hits a difficult stunt and the whole team gets hyped up for you.”

 

“What I love most about cheer is the strong community within our team and the adrenaline rush I get when performing,” said co-captain Emily Young ’25. “Cheer requires a lot of teamwork, especially within stunts, because cheer does not rely on one person, it relies on the whole team. To be successful, the whole team needs to be present and determined. All of our hard work pays off as soon as we step onto the field.”

 

This past summer, the Cheer program attended the NCA Cheer competition camp, a tradition incorporated into the program by former Head Coach Jamie Everett Balke. The Mavericks garnered several awards presented by NCA: Varsity Squad Top Team Cheer Award, JV Squad Top Team Band Chant Award, and the Spirit Stick Award. Individual accolades went to: Talulah Monthy (2x All-American), Claire Chih (2x All-American), Addison Walker (All-American), David Schaefer (All-American Mascot), Emily Young (Leadership Award), Emerson Chenevert, Catherine Hamner, and Emily Young (Pin It Forward Pin). The goals of the three-day camp held at Sam Houston State University are team building, gaining trust, and establishing stunt groups. When it was over, the Mavs left with the Herkie Award, given to the program that shows true team spirit, unity, and leadership. 

“The NCA cheer camp experience is unlike any other experience,” said Young. “At the end of each day, we are evaluated on how energetic, positive, and kind our team is during the camp. We also work very hard to memorize and perfect a lot of new cheer material in a very short amount of time so we can compete/perform for the final performance day. While this camp can be very tiresome, it is honestly very bonding for the team and sets a precedent for the season. After cheer camp, we start our new season already bonded which is beneficial to the productivity and fun of our team.”

 

“It’s fun to be a part of the community and be able to cheer the Mavericks on,” said Head Cheer Coach D’Hania Hunt, who is in her first year as the head coach of the program.” A lot of different sports teams are reaching out to ask the cheerleaders to attend their contests. Next fall, we will be cheering at field hockey games.”

This fall, keep your eyes on Cheer on the court and on the field, especially at their big reveal of special stunts performed at the All-School Pep Rally and the St. John’s - Kinkaid Varsity Football game on October 31 and November 1, respectively. 

Go, MAVS!

 

Sam Chambers- Athletic News