Peyton Dahlstrom is a journalism student at Gilbert Christian High School assigned to cover high school sports for AZPreps365.com

“Cheer takes a lot of hard-work and dedication,” says Sydney Deogracias, a freshman on the Gilbert Christian varsity cheer team. 

 

Sydney has done competitive gym for around five years, but just retired from it last year in April. While beginning her high school experience, she decided to tryout for the GCHS cheer team. She says, “it was a little intimidating at first, but I am so happy I did because I have built so many friendships and made so many memories even in these last few months.”

 

Sydney explains that she has taken a lot of her skills, both physically and mentally, in gymnastics and applied them to cheer. “Gym has not only taught me flexibility and tumbling skills, but also team work,” she said. 

 

The best tumbling skill she had ever gained was a standing full, also known as a backflip 360. Sydney was very excited to get this skill back this year after not practicing it for a while, and using it competitively, but certain COVID-19 cautions prevented many consistent things from happening.

 

This year is very unique for all of us with COVID-19 guidelines and uncertainty. COVID-19 has also affected cheerleading in a few different ways. According to Sydney, school cheer “does not partake in competitions and wears masks on the sidelines at games.”

 

“This can be frustrating but everyone is trying to give us the best experience they can,” she said. Even though Sydney isn’t able to tumble as much as she was used to, she still enjoys cheer and the people involved.

 

Gymnastics was a great experience and it taught her plenty of useful life lessons, but she loves cheerleading as well and can’t wait to continue the year.