Cheer Preview

Bearcat Cheer looks to return to form this year under new head coach Haley Helms. Helms was a Bearcat cheerleader from 2013-2017, and said she’s excited be the coach of a program she was once a part of.

“I’m excited to transform this program into something traditional,” Helms said. “Something like back when I was cheering.”

She said though she’s a new coach, the cheer team will be the same squad on Friday nights.

“We’re going to get on that field on Friday nights and not just be a face, but be the ones getting the crowd together,” Helms said. “We want our boys to go as far as they can in those playoffs,... and we want to be the ones that gets the crowd involved.”

Helms wants the team to be a part of the com- munity. She said she plans to have the cheerleaders at fundraisers, downtown events, pep rallies and other similar events. Helms said involving the cheerleaders in the community means being role models for younger girls in town

“I want to be a role model for these girls so the girls can be role models for the young girls,” Helms said. “Girls in our community look up to the cheerleaders like they’re famous.”

The team has six seniors that Helms said she’ll be relying on to be the leaders of the team. Helms is looking forward to being involved with the Bearcats once again.

“I always saw myself on the sidelines doing something when I came home,” Helms said. “I’m very excited to be the head coach.”