RHS varsity squad gets excited for mini cheer clinic
By Lauren Wester
lauren.wester@fct.wpengine.com
Now that football season has finally rolled around, it’s time for little girls to drag out their giant hair bows and pom-poms. Russellville High School’s biannual mini cheerleading clinic is right around the corner.
Starting Sept. 11, the Russellville varsity cheerleaders, under the guidance of Coach Stephanie Mayfield, will start teaching children the basics of cheer, dance, building and tumbling.
“It’s one of my team’s favorite things to do all year,” Mayfield said.
The clinic will be held Sept. 11-13 at the West Elementary School gym from 3-5 p.m. the first two days and 3-4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Cost is $30 to attend the clinic or $50 for two girls in the same family.
The RHS 13 varsity cheerleaders will divide the girls up into groups based on their grades, Mayfield said. Pre-k and kindergarten will be one combined group, while first through fifth grade each get their own separate groups. Each group learns a different cheer; however, they all learn the same dance.
This year the dance will be to Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” – part of a mix the varsity cheerleaders learned at camp.
“We already knew we wanted to do that song, so when we got to camp and they already had one made, it was like fate,” Mayfield said.
Participating girls will get a special visit from Champ on Wednesday, their last day at the clinic.
Mayfield said attendance at the clinic has grown every year, and they are expecting about 100 girls this year.
Snacks and a recess time will be provided. Every girl will receive a T-shirt to wear for their performance on game day with the sponsors’ logos on the back.
“None of this would be possible without our administration and without the sponsors from the community,” Mayfield said.
Registration forms can be picked up in the offices of West Elementary School and Russellville Elementary School or contact Mayfield for more information. Proceeds from the clinic serve as a fundraiser for the varsity cheerleaders to go toward their new uniforms they bought this year.
