Flyer Melanie DuMez performs a liberty stunt supported by her teammates. In addition to cheering at the Waubonsee basketball games, the Waubonsee cheerleaders are currently training for their upcoming competitions, set to begin on March 2nd. Photo by Jacob Pacheco.

By: Johnny Crouch, Sports & Activities Executive

For the Waubonsee Community College cheerleading team, there’s more to the sport than sideline chants and halftime routines. Behind every performance are hours of training, teamwork and resilience. From intense physical conditioning to overcoming misconceptions about their sport, these athletes dedicate themselves to their craft in ways that often go unnoticed.

Cheerleading is one of the most physically demanding sports, requiring endurance, strength and precision. Head coach Gina Damato emphasized just how much goes into a single routine.

“Our routine is two minutes and 15 seconds of non-stop movement,” Damato said. “In that time, they have to do standing tumbling, running tumbling, jumps, two different stunt sequences, a pyramid and a dance. They don’t get a breath the entire time.”

Despite the grueling pace, cheerleading is often dismissed as something easy. This misconception frustrates those who dedicate years of their lives to the sport. 

“A lot of people don’t realize the scary things we do,” Damato said. “We’re throwing people up to the ceiling, going two or three people high, and all we have under us is a mat that’s two inches thick. It takes an incredible amount of trust.”

Even with the skill and danger involved, cheerleading is continuously overlooked as a real sport. Freshman Aaliyah McCall, who also plays softball, has noticed firsthand how cheerleading compares to other widely recognized sports.

“Cheer is really, really cardio-based,” McCall said. “When you run the bases in softball, it’s only for about 10 seconds at a time, but in cheer, it’s two minutes of back-to-back cardio, jumping, tumbling, stunting, throwing people in the air. It’s exhausting.”

For freshman Zach McDermott, the team’s only male cheerleader, cheerleading’s lack of recognition is frustrating.

“It’s frustrating when people think they can just walk in and do what we do,” McDermott said. “Most people on this mat have been cheering for most of their lives. For a lot of us, it’s more than a hobby; it’s something we’ve worked toward for a long time.”

That dedication isn’t just about perfecting routines, it’s about ensuring safety. In a sport where athletes are quite literally putting their safety in their teammates’ hands, trust is everything.

“It’s almost an Olympic sport,” Damato said. “It’s already international, and it’s the second most dangerous sport in the country after football. I mean, we have a bow and a uniform. We don’t have helmets, pads or anything. It’s just us.”

That lack of protection makes safety a constant priority, especially in a sport where athletes perform high-flying stunts all while trusting their teammates to catch them. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it accounts for 65% of all catastrophic injuries in female sports, underscoring the critical need for constant focus on safety.

“You have to trust your teammates completely,” sophomore captain Anna Wenzel said. “If you don’t, you won’t hit your stunts the same way, and that can be dangerous.”

Sophomore Jakira Jones, the second team captain, emphasized that building that trust takes time.

“It all comes with practice,” Jones said. “The more you practice, the more you develop that connection with your team.”

That bond extends beyond just performances. The trust built on the mat forms lifelong connections, allowing the team to push through adversity together. 

“This team is like a family,” McDermott said. “There are bumps in the road, but at the end of the day, there’s so much love and support here.”

One of the ways Waubonsee’s cheerleaders keep each other motivated is through “mat talk,” an essential part of their routine.

“Mat talk is when we’re constantly hyping each other up during a performance,” McCall said. “Saying things like ‘you got it’ or ‘keep her up’ makes a difference. Even just counting out loud helps keep everyone on track.”

McDermott agreed that mat talk is crucial.

“Even if a stunt falls or something doesn’t go as planned, mat talk keeps the energy high,” McDermott said. “You remind each other that you’re still doing your best, and that’s what matters.”

The team spends a minimum of six hours a week perfecting their performances, as they prepare for one of the biggest competitions in college cheerleading.

“We practice four times a week, and because we’re in competition season, we’re getting ready for NCA in Daytona,” Damato said.

The National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) College Nationals, held annually in Daytona Beach, Florida, is one of the most prestigious events in collegiate cheerleading. Teams from across the country compete on a national stage, showcasing high-energy routines packed with stunts, tumbling and synchronized choreography.

“That’s where 800 college teams from across the country compete, so we have to be at our best,” Damato said.

The preparation includes everything from conditioning to fine-tuning stunts.

“We warm up, tumble for about half an hour, work on jumps, stunt for two hours and then run our full routine,” Damato said. “It’s all about repetition, fixing the little details, adjusting people’s positions and making sure everything is perfect.”

Before heading to Daytona, the team will put their training to the test at their first competition of the season on March 2. With a roster filled mostly with freshmen, strong leadership is crucial. That’s where captains like Wenzel and Jones come in.

“I make my sophomores write an essay if they want to be a captain,” Damato said. “It’s not just about skill, it’s about being a leader, keeping the team organized and creating a fun environment.”

For Wenzel, leadership goes beyond just guiding routines, it’s about creating a strong team culture and supporting others.

“We’re not just there to stand around and look pretty,” Wenzel said. “Our job is to motivate other athletes, support other sports and build strong bonds with our teammates.”

With training for the competitive season well underway, the team remains focused on both their upcoming competition and their ultimate goal in Daytona. But they’re also looking ahead to next year, especially with six sophomores graduating at the end of the season.

“We have tryouts coming up in April for next season,” Damato said. “We already have some returning athletes and new recruits, but we’re always looking for more talent.”

The team is also fundraising to help cover expenses for their trip to Daytona and other team costs.

“Fundraising is always our biggest challenge,” Damato said. “It’s an expensive trip, and we need all the support we can get.”

Despite the long practices, the physical demands and the adversity they face, the Waubonsee cheerleading team continues to push forward, driven by their love for the sport and commitment to each other. Whether cheering on the sidelines or competing on the national stage, their success is built on trust, teamwork and relentless dedication.

“We’re more than just a team, we’re a family,” Jones said. “No matter what happens, we always have each other’s backs.”