The Duncan High School cheer squad is looking for school spirit, and now Duncan Middle School eighth-graders will get a chance to show it.
Duncan High School cheer tryouts started Monday and are set to go through Thursday. Learning days started Monday and will continue from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today.
Mock tryouts will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The actual tryouts for the DHS cheer squad will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
The tryout process started Feb. 24 with a mandatory, parent meeting.
DMS cheerleader Jaylee Hornbeak is excited for tryouts.
Hornbeak, an eighth-grader at DMS, has been on the DMS cheer squad for the past two years.
“To make the team, it’s going to take trying my hardest and making sure I never stop smiling,” she said.
Delaney Ward, another eighth-grade cheerleader, said she is trying out for Duncan High School cheer because she enjoys cheerleading and wants to continue to be involved.
“I hope I make the team because I’ve worked hard with the cheer team before,” Ward said.
Both said they know there will be some challenges with tryouts.
Hornbeak said she thinks the hardest thing about tryouts is getting over the nerves. She also thinks there are areas to improve, including her jumps.
“I have no idea if I’m going to make the team because there is no possible way to tell,” Hornbeak said. “The most important thing is to make sure you never stop smiling.”
Ward is also battling a case of nerves.
“The hardest thing about tryouts is doing the cheer and being loud throughout the cheer and not being shy,” she said.
She said she thinks she is ready and will work to improve in areas that might be the most challenging.
“The most important thing is having good motions and being loud,” Ward said.
