O’Connell cheerleading is back and better than ever for the 2022-2023 season. After summer tryouts, twice-weekly practices, and weekly conditioning, both JV and Varsity are ready to cheer on the O’Connell football and basketball teams at the home games this year. For the first time since the pandemic, the teams were able to participate this past July in their annual Cheer Camp. The girls had four intense days of practice that culminated with a competition. Junior Isabel Segovia, JV Cheer Captain, called it an opportunity for team bonding and “a really good time to just focus on doing the one thing.” This year’s camp paid off, with the JV squad winning two blue ribbons and Varsity being awarded multiple trophies.

The teams performed together at O’Connell’s Fall Sports Pep Rally in early September with both a dance and a stunt routine. Multiple cheerleaders showed off their impressive tumbling skills, including seniors Kiran Blanton and Elizabeth Shiker with their back tucks. The girls’ recent focuses have been the Homecoming game and the Homecoming Pep Rally, at which Varsity performed a dance with the Royalettes Dance Team. Amidst the intensity of the sport, “cheer is a good way to socialize with people” according to Segovia, and the team’s bond remains strong.