Editor's note: This story was revised to include information about the competition being a PIAA sanctioned sport and not a club cheer competition. Comments on Facebook made us aware this distinction must be made clear. Also another head coach was inadvertently left out of this story.
Standing with their arms stretched toward the center of a circle, coach Katie Neely asked what they wanted to say together to end practice.
"It's gotta be states!" one of the Oil City cheerleaders said.
The squad of 21 girls was practicing in the Oil City Middle School gymnasium Wednesday night.
They are competitive cheerleaders.
"The general public thinks of sideline cheerleading and don't really understand the athleticism," said Neely. "It is two and a half minutes of non-stop action. We are throwing and catching people. It takes a lot of strength."
The squad lost the district competition to Warren by only fractions of a point, but their score was nearly perfect. They were awarded a wild card spot to states, earning them a trip to the Giant Center in Hershey at the end of the month. They compete in the big schools division in a PIAA recognized sport.
Neely knows what this means. She went to states three times as an Oil City student under then head coaches Stacey McFall and Erin Lenze. Neely said it was a highlight of her career to compete in Hershey and in her senior year she was part of a district 10 champion squad with her little sister.
"It's gotta be states!" one of the Oil City cheerleaders said.
The squad of 21 girls was practicing in the Oil City Middle School gymnasium Wednesday night.
They are competitive cheerleaders.
"The general public thinks of sideline cheerleading and don't really understand the athleticism," said Neely. "It is two and a half minutes of non-stop action. We are throwing and catching people. It takes a lot of strength."
The squad lost the district competition to Warren by only fractions of a point, but their score was nearly perfect. They were awarded a wild card spot to states, earning them a trip to the Giant Center in Hershey at the end of the month. They compete in the big schools division in a PIAA recognized sport.
Neely knows what this means. She went to states three times as an Oil City student under then head coaches Stacey McFall and Erin Lenze. Neely said it was a highlight of her career to compete in Hershey and in her senior year she was part of a district 10 champion squad with her little sister.
"I just wanted to give this to them," Neely said.
With a squad that is freshmen and sophomore heavy and less than a handful of seniors, Neely expects big things next year and for years to come. And she is committed to staying. "I always wanted to coach and next year I want to beat Warren and win districts," she said.
With a squad that is freshmen and sophomore heavy and less than a handful of seniors, Neely expects big things next year and for years to come. And she is committed to staying. "I always wanted to coach and next year I want to beat Warren and win districts," she said.
Not checking social media, the squad often takes videos of their stunts to help fine tune.
Coaching isn't without challenges. COVID wreaks havoc and they lost a whole year last year. They also practice their routine on a mat that is a little too small. They could really use two more mats that are roughly 6 feet by 40 feet. Then they could practice on a competition-size surface. "They are really expensive," said Lenze. The mat sections run anywhere from $500 to $1,000 each.
Neely said the squad isn't really fundraising for their trip to Hershey, but they are hoping to keep building the athletic program and do raise funds through the Blue & White Booster Club. All cheer squads benefit from the booster program, not only the competitive group.
The squad is a co-op between Oil City and Cranberry high schools. Several of the girls also cheer football, basketball and wrestling.
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Since they only practice once a week they only have one more chance to fine tune their performance.
Well two times actually.
This Saturday they will showcase their routine for the public at 4 p.m. at the middle school. It is a chance for them to show off their skills and also educate others a little more on the world of competitive cheer. It also gives locals who cannot make the trip to Hershey a chance to see this group's hard work.
Well two times actually.
This Saturday they will showcase their routine for the public at 4 p.m. at the middle school. It is a chance for them to show off their skills and also educate others a little more on the world of competitive cheer. It also gives locals who cannot make the trip to Hershey a chance to see this group's hard work.
The showcase will give them a chance to perform before a crowd and see anything they'd like to change during their last practice next Wednesday. Then they will be ready to hit the road to Hershey to compete on January 28 and 29 against the best squads in the state.
Good luck girls.
Below are a few more photos from practice and working out their routine this week.
Good luck girls.
Below are a few more photos from practice and working out their routine this week.
Please see even more photos, 145 of them in fact at
https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p1056141725
https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p1056141725
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