She literally “flies through the air with the greatest of ease.” If you’ve been to any ILS Football games or pep rallies, you will have certainly noticed Sofia Melendez a sophomore who has been on the cheer team, and involved in the sport itself for two years. Her main position throughout the various routines is that of being a flyer which is the person that is held up by three other girls as she completes stunts in the air. 

Before cheerleading, Sofia practiced ballet from the age of two up until she turned eleven. Then, from the ages eleven to fourteen, she dedicated her time to swimming. 

“I chose cheer from binge watching all those high-school related movies,” she confided.

Towards the end of the year, Sofia was able to build tight bonds with most of her cheer peers, explaining how the team still has each other’s backs and cares for each another. 

Ms. Coral Buxeda, is the head coach of the Junior Varsity and Varsity Cheerleading team. Ms. Buxeda pushes each of the girls to become the best version of themselves, even though practices are hard in the moment. Sofia discusses how she always looks back and sees all the sacrifices she has made and the rough path she, her teammates, and her coach beside her have all been through. Knowing that the coach knows how much the team can improve as well as of course winning Regionals, States and/or Nationals, have made it worthwhile.

A hard obstacle for Sofia she overcome in the past was where she had fallen off a stunt at last year’s Homecoming game. Her knee popped out. In that moment, she faced great embarrassment as well.

“Felt very bad about the incident, because after all it was my first year cheering and I practically fell in love with the sport at first sight, therefore knowing that due to the circumstances, I was going to miss out the first period of competition season left me in great disappointment,” said Sofia.

Overall, just like any other sport, moments like these changes a person and drive them to become a new version of themselves. Cheer, especially the position Sofia performs, requires trust, relying on other people. Cheer can also develop a strong work ethic for it is an ongoing sport that goes through the whole school year. Additionally, being part of a team, can help lower someone’s guard down and appreciate their own peers and learn something different about each one of them.

“Cheer has changed me as a person because even though I have practiced other sports before, I never really focused on the perspective of teamwork,” added Sofia.

A controversial topic Sofia finds herself weighing in on frequently is that of whether cheerleading is indeed a sport. She definitely believes that it is.

In the end, it is not in fact just about who has the loudest scream, who looks better in bows, or who can shake her pom-poms the most. For Sofia, cheer is a combination of dance and gymnastics; therefore, each team is instructed to perform a routine of exactly two minutes and 30 seconds which cannot be anything less than perfection, and they only have one shot to do so. 

“Honestly, cheer has all the components of a sport; sacrifice, it’s tough on your body, pressure and success,” she asserted.