This year the cheerleaders gathered for their first-ever Friendsgiving, relaxing and eating food instead of working hard at practices. 

The girls find team bonding important. They feel closer to their teammates, and more comfortable being around one another, besides just knowing them from practices and games.

“Team bonding for me is making the underclassmen feel welcomed and meeting new friends. Years prior, I hated team bonding because nobody really made me feel welcomed. But these past two years have been so much fun, I have made so many new friends,” Alexis Minnick said.

Holding gatherings outside of cheer gives an opportunity of things to bond over and to be able to connect better personally with one another.

“I love that we get to learn about each other outside of cheer. We get to laugh with each other and bond over things other than the sport that we love,” Makayla BockKrollman said 

Traditionally, the team tries to have a Thanksgiving or a Christmas party every year. 

“We all wear Christmas pajamas and go to someone’s house. We eat and we usually do white elephant at our parties. We also usually play some other games such as charades,” Ally Parker said. 

The girls look up to each other and the constant support makes them feel welcomed on the team. 

“I would tell an incoming freshman about cheer so they feel welcomed. All the girls are so sweet and kind, you grow a connection that is unbreakable and everyone loves each other. So just be yourself and you will enjoy everything,” Rylee Eads said.