After a long fall sideline cheer season, the Niles West cheerleaders are ready to spring into their competitive cheer winter season. Following last year’s 10th-place finish at sectionals, the co-ed team is back, aiming to showcase their skills and place highly at various competitions throughout Illinois.
Barbara Carabio, now in her third year as the varsity competitive cheer coach at Niles West, is looking forward to a fresh start this season.
“Last year we were a co-ed division and we put 20 on the mat. This year we’re still a co-ed division but we’re putting 15 on the mat,” Carabio said. “Our biggest goal this year is to make IHSA state because we haven’t been able to do that in the past three years. We’re hoping to make an appearance this year,” Carabio said.
With the season quickly approaching, all the cheerleaders are excited to be back. For seniors, this season is especially meaningful as it will be their last time competing alongside their high school teammates.
Senior Denise Lohan, a sideline and competitive cheerleader, is looking forward to her final season on varsity.
“I like competitive season cheer just because I feel like we get closer as a team and we get to try out a lot of new stuff. I’m most excited for my senior night,” Lohan said.
It’s not just the seniors who are excited for the upcoming season, though. Junior Lana Jocic, a varsity cheerleader who competes in both seasons, is ready for her third competitive cheer season.
“I’m excited for the bus rides, the routines we’re going to learn, and I hope that we all get along this season. I’m hoping we make it to state this year, or just place in general,” Jocic said.
Junior Emely Cajamarca, a JV dual-season cheerleader, is also entering her third year on the cheer team.
“I’m excited for the new competition we’re going to this year and working on harder things. I really hope that, for varsity, we make it to sectionals,” Cajamarca said
Carabio is most excited to see her cheerleaders perform in competitions—the events they practice hard for.
“All my happy memories of cheer are whenever my teams get off the mat and they hit 0, that means they hit everything perfectly so we have no deductions. Seeing them come off the mat happy is always a memory for me,” Carabio said.
The varsity competitive cheer team will take part in their first competition of the season on December 8th, 2024, at Carl Sandburg High School. They’ll compete for a spot in IHSA state on February 1st, 2025, with the location still to be determined.
