The members of the varsity cheerleading team work for two seasons each year to perfect their skills. Some have joined the squad recently, striving to catch up to the more experienced cheerleaders. While lots of people think the sport is just about supporting school athletic teams, the cheerleaders work hard year round to prepare for not just games, but competition. "Cheering is all about competition. We practice and work hard just for three minutes of show," said senior co-captain Sara Hulseberg.

The cheerleaders feel that aren’t given enough credit for their effort since they put in just as much hard work as the next athletic sport, but don't get the recognition. "We have a lot of injuries, but spectators don't see that part of the sport because we have to make it look good and in order to do that it has to look easy," said Hulseberg.

Junior cheerleader Kara Sotolotto agreed. "We put in a lot more work than other sports because we practice just about all year round," she said.

The girls have really been focusing on competition since August, practicing their tumbling and perfecting their front stretch, pull heel stretch, take down, one hand extension, take down, air basket stunt. "Right now we're just perfecting our difficult stunts and our technique," said junior Brittney Van Buran.

The varsity squad said that their improvement is largely due to their coach, Leah Corsetti, who took over four years ago. "Coach Corsetti has brought our team so far, in about two years we were three times better from when she first started," said Hulseberg.

As a Minnechaug graduate and former Minnechaug cheerleader, Corsetti really takes pride in her squad. "When I took the position the squad wasn't winning, now I have one of the most talented squads. Each girl is a perfectionist, and she really possesses pure talent," she said.

To prepare for competition, the girls practice four times a week to achieve a flawless routine. "Simple things like forgetting to look up at the person your holding during stunts can take away points," said Hulseberg.

A panel of judges evaluates the creativity, spirit, synchronization, motions, and difficulty of stunts, dance, cheer, jumps, formations, tumbling, and technique of the squad's routine. This year the girls' biggest contender is Agawam. "[They are] really good, but I think we have the ability to take first," said Sotolotto.

The cheerleaders said that they get along well, they hang out after practices and bond together. "It’s really important for us to be close to one another because you're literally holding someone's life in your hands when they’re up in the stunt," said Sotolotto.

Corsetti agreed. "There are no subs or alternates on this team. All the girls have to work together, no one person is more important than the other. It’s imperative for everyone to get along," she said.

The cheerleaders hope to win the Valley League competition and advance to Western Mass and then to States. "My goal is for the seniors to take home first place in our league," said Corsetti.

On top of that goal, the team also wants to show how much strength and dedication goes into their sport. "We cheer for anyone who asks us to. We support the school's teams, but when we go to compete no one comes to supports us except for Jeff Hannon, he really shows his school spirit," said Corsetti.

The squad challenges anyone to come and watch practices and see how much work they really do. "Our routine must combined stunts, tumbling, dance, cheer, jumps, formations all in 3 minutes with a smile. Its not as easy as we make it look," said Sotolotto.