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LILY DAKOTA
De Leon jumped at the opportunity to cheer with longtime friend Moss and start the school's first cheer team. When De Leon saw Moss post on Instagram about the cheer team, she swiped up and said, "I'm doing this with you." Pulling from her experience as captain of her middle school cheer team, De Leon considers herself a perfectionist. She also carries that perfectionism into her performances, whether it be for the cheer team or for her vocal pieces. When a pyramid locks in, or an elite stunt sequence locks in and you hit that, the feeling is so cool, watching the videos (back) and seeing how sharp it looks," De Leon said. "I think it's the same feeling (as hitting a note)." Moss finished the 2020-2021 school year with a goal to start a cheer team. I feel like (cheer) was definitely a big part of the school that was missing, especially the spirit and pep," Moss said. "I get to work and practice with a bunch of girls that also have the same passion as me." Moss got her start in cheer in middle school, and she's stuck with it ever since. Her enthusiasm remains consistent while learning different cheer formations and motions. I loved stunting and spacing and (other cheer techniques)," Moss said. "In our first practice we actually stunted a bit, which was really exciting and made me really happy because it's one of my favorite parts of cheer. Learning the routines and dances (is) also really fun. I enjoy every aspect of it." In the future, Moss is excited for the team to compete. For now, the team plans on doing spirit cheer; they'll be cheering for school sports, but won't compete in cheer competitions against other schools. Another one of the cheer team's goals this year is to acclimate the team to techniques and moves that could help them compete as early as next school year. I haven't done real competition cheer before, so I think it would be a new experience ... It does seem really exciting to have a routine to compete in front of other people," Moss said. "The rush of competing is really refreshing and really fun." ete as ear. ore, a new eem a fun." De Leon opportu longtim start the team. W Moss po abou sh sa wit
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lanted in front of the bleachers, the conversations of 12 students echoed across the gym. They waited for their cheer coach to lead them into warmups. The gym door creaked open, and one-by-one, each member of the new cheer team stood and got into formation. Within minutes, the gym was filled with the sound of Ciara's "Get Up." This team, one of three additions to school sports this year, was founded by communications junior Dakota Moss and vocal sophomore Lily De Leon and coached by dance teacher Branndi Lewis. Though the team was just established, they are already preparing to spread school spirit across campus.
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