Inspiring future Bobcat cheerleaders

Excitement filled the gym at Superior Elementary School Friday as the Superior High School Bobcat cheerleading squad gave eager students ranging from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade a crash course in school spirit.

Over 30 elementary students arrived at the gym at 11:00 am and split off in groups to learn several cheers from the high school team.

“Our former coach (Whitney Jarosch) got this program started last year and I really wanted to bring it back,” Superior senior cheerleader Hillary Stevens said.

Throughout the afternoon, the cheer squad taught the elementary school students dances and cheers in preparation for a performance at the Lady Bobcat Basketball game that very night.

School spirit was working in overdrive during the clinic and both the students and the teachers were all smiles.

“I love little kids, I teach swim lessons in the summer and it’s fun to have them be a part of the game,” Stevens said. “It’s building the program.”

Fellow high school senior Kate Bullock said during a break in teaching that during many of the Bobcat home games younger students stand by the cheer team and mimic their routines.

“It’s awesome to be role-models and it gives them a chance to join in,” Bullock said.

Stevens echoed Bullock in the importance of working with the students not only by being role models to the younger Bobcats, but building school spirit throughout the community as well.

As halftime approached during the Lady Bobcat victory over the Charlo Vikings, the 30-plus elementary students met with their new coaches to prepare for the big moment.

Some of the students even wore their own red, white and blue cheer outfits.

The packed Superior High School gym filled with applause as the newest Bobcat cheerleaders entered and got into formation.

Led by the high school squad, the students performed several routines with enthusiasm and smiles before leaving the gym that in turn cheered for them.

“The performance went great,” Stevens said. “The kids had a blast and I couldn’t be happier with the turnout we had.”

The Bobcat cheer squad also got a surprise during the performance, as their former coach was on hand to watch. Jarosch, who currently coaches cheer in Missoula, said the girls did well and it was great they were able to put the clinic on again this year.

“It really shows a lot about their maturity and their heart to bring more cheerleading into the community of Superior,” Jarosch said. “It’s great to expose kids to it at an early age.”

The exposure certainly was appreciated by the young Bobcats, several of whom could be found the following evening standing next to the cheer squad doing their part to promote school spirit right alongside their fellow Bobcats.