There will be a cheerleader and mascot mandatory meeting for students hoping to be a cheerleader or mascot, all students must attend with a parent or guardian. It will be held today, Feb. 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., if competitors miss the first meeting, they can go to the  make-up opportunity on Feb. 13.

“My advice for potential candidates is to mentally and physically prepare yourself to perform with energy and confidence in front of a bunch of people,” junior Rihanna Rand said. “It can be really intimidating especially with all the things people say about cheerleading in general. The judges are looking for somebody with confidence, strong motions and a projection in their voice.”

Although cheerleading is a mentally and physically demanding sport that requires ten or more hours of practice per week, it comes with “built-in support system,” according to Rand.

“My favorite part about being on the team is the friends you make along the way,” Rand said. “We’re always practicing in the same room so we naturally start talking and building connections. The girls are like my sisters and I love that there’s no drama or hatred between anyone on the team. We’re all in this together and it’s nice to have such a solid group of people to fall back on.”