Clinics for the JV and Varsity THS cheer squad were held March 14-16. Tryouts will be held on Friday, March 18 beginning at 3:30 for the 2016-2017 school year cheer squad.

Changes are being made to the varsity squad this year. There will now be two different squads, one for football and one for basketball. Girls are allowed to tryout for both squads if they wish.

During tryouts girls must perform a cheer, chant, dance and jumps in groups of three. Senior Holly Patterson helped teach the cheer, chant, and dance to the girls trying out.

“It’s weird being up there teaching the dance and not trying out this year,” said Patterson.

Although the squad is losing seniors, the team will possibly be gaining new members.

Mercedes Coleman is a sophomore and this is her first year trying out.

“I feel like it’s going to be good. The dance and the chants are pretty easy. Overall, I feel pretty confident,” said Coleman.

“I used to cheer in elementary school and middle school, but I was too scared to try out for the high school squad,” said Coleman. “My friends convinced me to tryout this year.”

There will be a panel of judges scoring the girls. The girl with the highest score gets the first spot on the varsity squad. After that the spots continue to fill up with the highest scorers until the team is formed.

Aiyana Layne is a rising senior and has been cheering for Tunstall all throughout high school.

Her reaction to her last try-outs is that “I’m not really upset yet because it hasn’t hit me that I’m going to be a senior,” said Layne.

Results for the the JV and Varsity squads will be posted on the THS gym doors on Monday, March 21 .

There will be a mandatory coach/parent/cheerleader meeting after the squad is selected.