The music is blasting; the smell of hairspray fills the air. The adrenaline is kicking in. The cheer team is preparing for a Friday Night Under the Lights. Many people see them on the side lines cheering, but don’t understand their process of getting ready and the behind the scenes of it.

The cheerleaders also need to get ready for games just as any other sport, in a way that might look a little different. For many athletes before a game, they need to fuel their bodies with food.

“My go to snack is definitely goldfish, I always have a pack in my bag,” said Ava Kaner. “I also always have to get the same Starbucks drink before the game.”

Food is a particularly important part of being an athlete as you need it to help you stay energized throughout the game. As the cheerleaders fuel their bodies it lets them be the best cheerleaders they can be! The cheerleaders get to experience the game in a different lense than everybody else.

“My favorite thing about pre-game atmosphere is the tailgates and getting to bond with my teammates and then definitely seeing all the kids line up to get to the bleachers,” said  Kaner.

The tailgate allows the cheerleaders to hangout with their friends before stepping onto the track. For many of the cheerleaders they have a routine or specific things they do before they go out on the field for Friday Night Under the Lights.

“Before every game me and my friend Brooke have to give Coach Hudd a fist bump as good luck for the game,” said Kaner.

Cheerleading is not just about cheering; it’s also about making friendships and connecting with those around you and bringing the school spirit with you on and off the track. But its also about having fun and bringing the energy.

“…just really any kind of pump up hip pop song makes our team hype such as Sexy Red, Cardi B, or Drake,” said kaner.