Del Mar’s cheerleading tryouts attracted at least 60 participants. Alexus Torres, the new cheerleader coach, says the final day of tryouts, May 7th, was for athletes to demonstrate the majority of their skills and for the coach to make their final decisions
“After we look at all of the scores they got during tryouts and we’re gonna watch our stunt videos back, and then we’ll decide who gets cut on JV or Varsity,” said Torres.
Torres said when she went to Coyote Creek, a cheer and football organization where she cheered until high school, she got her experience from being a coach there.
Torres said her practice sessions for the cheerleaders will consist of one group practice where they will learn their cheers and spirits. As well as one JV and Varsity practice per week, where they will focus on dances and other skills.
For cheers to learn, Torres said they will bring back cheers that the cheerleaders loved from last season.
“The girls said they want the cheer ‘Jack back’ and another cheer, ‘Red Hot,’ which are two they didn’t get to do last season,” said Torres.
Allison Galdamez, a sophomore, said she was motivated to try out to get out of her comfort zone by being surrounded by a nice environment. Galdamez said last season she didn’t have the best experience in cheer, but this year she is going to try and change that by getting more involved.
“I hope physically to become more flexible from cheerleading and hope to get to know one another,” Galdamez said about her teammates.
Leslie Robledo, a sophomore, said she was motivated to try out her friend who has always wanted to do it with her since freshman year. Robledo thinks cheer leading is a good fit for her because it is a good way to meet new people in different grades and also helps a lot with mobility.
“I hope to get better at my jumps a lot and learn to be louder when I do my cheers,” Robledo said.
Perla Francisco, a sophomore, said she was motivated to try out because of all the good vibes she felt, and even though she doesn’t feel like the most flexible person, she would like to get out of her comfort zone.
“I hope to get more experience from this because I’m starting to like it, and I hope to develop leadership skills and how to work with one another because you have to be able to work and speak kindly with one another”, Francisco said.
Emily Menchaca, a Junior, said at first she was scared to try out, but what motivated her was wanting to do it with her sister. Menchaca said she has had experience with cheer from last year and learned pretty fast.
“I’m hoping I get to learn my back bend from cheer because it’s what we’re working on right now and I kind of struggle with that, but I hope to learn it,” Menchaca said.
