Cheerleading at sporting events is more than just showing up and cheering on game day. There is a lot of preparation and work involved and getting ready for stunts and routines.

Morgan Kovar coaches the Rush Springs High School cheer team and she says that her team does more than just practice routines.

“My team’s biggest strength is literally their strength,” she said. “These girls all spend time in the weight room getting stronger.”

Kovar is in her sixth year of coaching at Rush Springs and this is her third season with the varsity team. She says that her squad does a great job of making sure they are at their best.

“I am really proud of their flexibility,” she said. “And their sense of pride to be great at the things they do.”

Senior Taylor Abbott likes the camaraderie amongst the team and being a positive role model.

“What I enjoy most about my team is that it doesn’t matter if we’re on the mat or just in life, we are always ready to support one another and cheer our teammates on,” she said. “I enjoy cheering for my school mostly because of the pride we carry as Redskins and the examples we set for the younger generation. Being someone they look up to is an honor and responsibility our school has given us to uphold. That’s why I love cheering for my school.”

Coach Kovar says that while their hard work is definitely evident, this group can be tough to wrangle up sometimes.

“We’ve developed really dependable stunt groups that have progressed quickly,” she said. “The hardest part is trying to get all of them in one place at the same time because they are stretched across so many activities and sports, in and away from school.”

Another senior on the squad, Kayla Hoover says that being a part of the cheer team is just like being a part of another family.

“My team is a close knit group,” she said. “No matter what we’re doing we are always going to encourage each other to do the hard things. I’m proud of the strength we all carry to do new things and build each other up. What I enjoy most about cheering for Rush Springs is that I always have a support system around.”

Photograph courtesy of Crosslight Photography and Amanda Scott