Falcons Cheerleaders Working Hard to Be the Best

Many people do not understand the sports aspect of cheerleading. But spend a day with practicing with the 8th grade Dacula Falcons cheerleaders, and you will see what great athletes look like.

Coach Thrisha Hightower leads this group of talented young athletes.

“Our girls want to have a great time, but they also want to look good,” Hightower said. “They want to be the best and they work hard to achieve that goal.”

Just like other athletes, these girls have to practice and learn difficult skills. Even though this is not a competitive cheerleading squad, the girls are still learning new dances, cheers, and stunts constantly. Cheerleading is fun, but it is also hard work. The girls have to build individual strength and skills, and learn to rely on their teammates.

“Flyers have to be able to hold their own body weight, and be able to stand on someone’s hand in the air trusting that if she falls those girls will catch her,” Hightower explains. ”Bases have to be able to hold those flyers in the air, they also have to be able to synchronize lifting the flyer and for the dismount they have to be able to throw the girl in the air and catch her. It is a lot harder than it looks.”

Coach Hightower believes that as a youth team coach, it is her responsibility to teach the girls the fundamentals of cheerleading. These fundamentals include teaching lessons that go beyond the stunts and dances these girls perform.

“It’s not just motions and jumps, but how to get along as a team,” Hightower said. “When they were younger, the issues were different. Now that they are eighth graders there are so many influences in their lives and they need to learn to respect themselves and each other.”

These girls have definitely learned what teamwork means this year. They have come together to form a great bond, and that is what has made them so successful.

“I have been amazed at how well they get along,” Hightower said proudly. “They sometimes have a little drama, but most of the time they get along great.”

Dacula Patch Team of the Week: Dacula Falcons 8th Grade Cheerleaders

Head coach: Thrisha Hightower

Other coaches: Alexia Henegar, Isel Simpson

Team Moms: Lynn Leach and Karrie Street

Cheerleaders to watch: Danielle Denton has been cheering for Dacula Rec for nine years and Carlynn Leach has been cheering Rec for eight years.

Achievements: placed 2nd for division in Cheer-Off.

Click here for more information about the Dacula Falcons 8th Grade Cheerleaders

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