On winter competition mornings, while much of the school is still asleep, the Lane Tech cheerleaders stretch side by side, hair curled, and bows tied, ready for another high-energy routine. For them, the season is not just about Friday night lights or packed basketball games. It is about long practices, city championships, and a team bond that grows stronger each year.
For sophomore Chris Griffin, the driving force behind the team is the connection built over months of work. “I’d definitely say like the bond that we all made throughout the season,” Griffin said. “We’re so close, and I just love that about us.” That closeness, he explained, comes from the hours spent conditioning, practicing routines, and pushing through difficult moments together.
Despite that effort, Griffin believes many people at Lane still primarily see cheer as a support squad. “Nobody really goes to like our competitions and they only really see us cheer at football or basketball games,” he said. While the crowds may notice them on the sidelines, much of the team’s competitive work happens out of the spotlight.
Others on the team however, say perceptions are beginning to shift.
Junior Rosemary Jensen has watched the team grow in recognition, especially following recent achievements. “I think our team has grown a lot into more of a competitive team,” Jensen said, noting that strong performances at city competitions over the past two years have helped reshape the team’s image. Because of that progress, she believes people are starting to respect the team.
Still, the athletes say misconceptions linger. A particular one being the claim that cheerleading is not a real sport. “I feel like [people] just don’t understand the hard work that we put into our sport every practice,” Griffin said, adding that practices include frequent conditioning and repeated “full-outs,” or complete run-throughs of routines.
Sophomore team member Avery Stoner, reacts more strongly to the criticism, saying “it’s angering” when people dismiss cheer as a real sport. Yet, she remains hopeful. “We’re gaining more recognition,” Stoner said. “I think people will understand eventually that it is a sport.”
Part of that understanding comes from recognizing the time commitment. Stoner described a demanding schedule they have to follow. “We practiced two hours for seven days a week,” she said. Jensen echoed that intensity, pointing out that in January alone she practiced four or five days a week, calling it “a very intense commitment, but like, it’s all worth it.”
The payoff has included major victories. The cheer team currently holds back-to-back city championship titles.
For Junior Janelle Corpuz, the team’s strength lies not only in trophies, but in leadership and community. “My favorite part about being on the cheer team is the leadership that we receive and also the community that we get to build over the years,” she said. Since cheerleading relies on trust and teamwork, she believes that having “a really good team around you” is essential.
That sense of belonging is something that she hopes others would see. “I wish more people knew that the cheer team was such a good community and they actually really care about showing people that they are a sport and that we are a real team,” Corpuz said, adding that the group deserves more respect. “I think if someone’s wanting to join, I would tell them that it’s a really fun place to really get to know more people.”
Even as they continue cheering on football, basketball, and other sports from the sidelines, Lane Tech’s cheerleaders are focused on redefining how their sport is viewed. Through demanding practices, city titles, and a tightly bonded team culture, they are working to ensure that their efforts are recognized, not just as support, but as competition in its own right.
