What is it like being on the cheer team at Greenwood High School? I will give insight and a glimpse into Arianna Bailey’s life as a cheerleader. Ariana is a sophomore, and she is dedicated and committed to cheerleading with amazing school spirit.The GHS cheerleaders usually cheer at the football and basketball games that happen against other teams throughout Bowling Green, Kentucky and other counties. One of the most recent games they cheered at was at home against Hopkins County Central with the boys basketball team winning 69 to 66, and the girls basketball team winning against Allen County in Scottsville 82 to 58.Great job to the team.

As of Monday February 16th the cheerleaders have one more game until they make it to the districts.

I asked Bailey about her experience being a cheerleader at Greenwood. She described it as fun and thrilling. She said it was thrilling because there is a lot of anticipation that builds up seeing if your team is going to win the game, especially if it is a close game.

I also talked to Bailey about what a typical game day looks like for her from the moment she wakes up to the moment they hear the final whistle. Bailey said that “it feels like a normal day up until 4”. Which is when she starts heading to the school where they have a team meal and then the head to the gym to get ready.

I also asked her how do you get ready for a game when you don’t have intense practices like the competition team?She responded “I take an energy nap and set an alarm clock for what time to get ready.An energy nap is something that she uses to refuel after a long day at school especially since at the cheerleading games they stand for a long time and put a lot of energy into the cheers that they do as well as having to interact with the crowd.

Bailey was then asked what was the vibe like on the sidelines during a football or basketball game?She responded passionately saying “Football games are more intense rather than the basketball games.”Bailey says that the basketball games are quieter than football games.

During basketball or even football games I asked her how she keeps her energy up without getting tired or feeling sleepy .Bailey said she thinks about going home, taking a shower and going to bed.It gives her adrenaline.The adrenaline is something that keeps her thriving.

Since Bailey is on the sideline and not competition they don’t practice as much as competition does since they are just doing the cheers at the dance.I asked her how does she stay sharp and remember the dances without forgetting without the practice?Sometimes she will practice  randomly to stay sharp but she said she has good memory so she does not need to practice  as much especially since she did cheer her freshman year it’s easier for her to remember how to do the dance

Her favorite part of cheering is getting to chat with friends during team meals or talking with friends on the sidelines.She also mentioned that some of the other moments she talks in are during halftime or during the 20 minute “intermission” between the double header.That really gives her time to connect with other cheerleaders on the team.This moves us on to our next question, which was how do friendships grow on the team?”She said because her and her friends are able to build each other up and energize one another.They mingle and get to know each other,especially since they go on bus rides together to away games, stand next to each other, and most of all they are on the same team so you are constantly seeing other cheerleaders and making a big group of friends.

I asked her one more question,how does being a cheerleader influence your personal style or how you decorate your room?She said I don’t really take cheer into my heart and don’t put it as a decoration, mainly as just a hobby.Some people make cheer their personality, but not me, i make it a hobby and seeing as something I love.She sees cheer as something she can do in her free time and sometime that can be contributed to her highschool experience. Being on the cheerleading team is a great experience with many opportunities from having a great coach,to teammates,to great football players to basketball players.