When thinking of sports, the most common are football, baseball and basketball. One sport, however, is usually left out and forgotten that involves just as much dedication, determination and maybe a bit more vocalization: cheerleading. At Pattonville, one special group of cheerleaders helps pep up the crowd at Pattonville hockey games.
Senior Sierra Hartley got her start with the cheerleading team from her teammate and friend LeAnn Buchheit.
“I wanted to get involved my senior year,” Hartley said.
This is Hartley’s first year as a hockey cheerleader and she had quite the experience of it.
“It felt good to see the same people every week and to cheer on the hockey team,” she said.
But it’s not all bells and whistles being with the same people.
“Like every team, we had little fights but we always worked it out and changed our situations,” Hartley said. She added this also helped her in the real world.
On Sunday, Feb. 12, the Pattonville Hockey Cheerleaders took home 1st place with their ‘Pirate fans shout P-H-S! P-H-S!’ chant and 2nd in the performed cheer at the Fort Zumwalt East Game and Competition.
For preparations of the competition, the cheerleaders “had practice every Wednesday and after the final game,” Harley said. “We focused only on our competition stuff.”
Although this was Hartley’s first and only year on the hockey cheerleading squad, it was an experience she will never forget.
“Hockey cheerleading brought me new friends and helpful skills,” Harley said. “That’s why I love it.”