Pep Squad Adds Sparkle to Barbie-Themed Game of the Week

Shaina Taebi | October 18, 2023 | 103 Views

Pep Squad dances on the sidelines in the midst of the game. “Honestly, our team has gotten really good at handling the adrenaline aspect of it because it’s one thing hitting in a wrestling room where your coach is watching,” co-captain and senior Evyn Kingsley said. “It’s completely different when the stadium lights are on you and there’s a whole student section that’s watching you.”

Pep Squad held their Barbie-themed Game of the Week on Oct. 6 to honor National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pep Squad decked out with Barbie logos on their boxes, a life-sized Barbie display case and posed dolls next to each cheerleader’s box.

The theme was inspired by the popularity of the Barbie movie and the color correlated with breast cancer awareness, according to Boy’s Athletic Commissioner and senior Ryan Aminloo.

“Obviously, the goal with Game of the Week is to get turnout,” Aminloo said, “Because a lot of our students are student athletes at Portola, it’s really important that they get that attention and love from ASB. The way we get that turnout is with the themes, trying to get people excited to dress out and really show support.”

Leading up to the game, cheer was hard at work preparing for the halftime show performance. The team had three practices to prepare choreography which took into account multiple formations, two pyramids and several stunts, according to co-captain and senior Evyn Kingsley.

“Before every time we ran a routine we were always making sure, saying ‘Okay guys, make this one count,’” Kingsley said. “[We’re] taking the responsibility we have of making sure everyone is paying attention and listening, because with cheerleading, if someone’s not knowing what’s going on or if they’re not focused, someone could get hurt.”

Despite the risks, the cheer team still put on a show-stopping performance during the halftime show with new pyramid formations and stunts with different groups, according to head coach and math teacher Michele Correll.

“I’m proud of that whole game,” Correll said. “I think they did really well. The halftime went really, really well for how much we changed it. They did such a good job, and there was one part that almost didn’t make it, but they made it work.”

Overall, whether it is cheering on the sidelines of a game or trying out new stunts in the wrestling room, Pep Squad’s dedication to their craft is noticeable and appreciated, according to Correll.

“What has made them improve this year is their attitudes,” Correll said. “So whether it’s, ‘Okay you’re gonna be in this group now’ or ‘You’re gonna move over here and be with this group’ or ‘Okay you have to be a side base even though you’re normally a main base.’ They’re so willing to try it out, and they’re not willing to give up. They try 110%, and they’re encouraging each other.”

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About the Contributor

Shaina Taebi, Backpage Editor

Shaina Taebi is the Backpage Editor for her third year in the Portola Pilot. For her final year she is excited to spend class time drawing more editorial cartoons and hopefully writing some interesting stories. Beyond the classroom she is most likely rewatching Hearstopper, screaming along to a Harry Styles song, or getting a headache from oil paint fumes.