FALL SPORTS ‘24: Vashon’s cheerleaders are there for each other

Vashon’s cheer program performs at rallies and amps up football and basketball fans.

By Alex Bruell • October 3, 2024 1:00 pm

When coach Angel Joy wrapped up her time coaching Vashon’s cheer team last year, Sarah Bjarnson — whose daughter Lilja performs on the team and graduates this year — stepped in to take over.

Bjarnson said that at first, she told her daughter that she’d volunteer as an assistant coach if needed. But the team, in fact, needed a head coach, so Bjarnson stepped up, though she hadn’t anticipated serving in that capacity.

Returning to coach the team again, and still fairly new to coaching, Bjarnson nonetheless knows the sport — she was herself a cheerleader and participated in dance and gymnastics in high school.

“I’m somewhat bossy, but I’m also fun to be around,” she said of her coaching style.

Vashon’s cheer program performs at pep rallies, amps up football crowds in the fall and hypes up basketball fans in the winter. It’s a challenging sport that demands strength, agility, tight timing and coordination among the girls, who lead cheers, perform stunts and learn choreographed dances together.

“A lot of the girls like to do stunts and dances besides just the cheer,” Bjarnson said. “So like we’ll do, learned choreographed dances. … It’s a physical job. It’s like doing aerobics for an hour and a half.”

The team has 13 students, eight of whom are seniors who will graduate this year. While there are no freshmen on the team now, Bjarnson anticipates picking up a few for the winter season.

The cheer squad is made up of girls who work well together and who are always willing to help each other out, she said.

“It’s not cliquey,” she said. “They’re all-inclusive to each other.”

Performing stunts requires athletes at the bottom (aka the “bases”) who are strong and capable, and athletes on top (aka “the flyers”) who are strong and agile, Bjarnson said. Their trust in each other, as well as in their own skills, is key to pulling off stunts.

They’re developing those skills and their repertoire of stunts, she said, including working on their halftime dance for the Oct. 11 Homecoming game. She’s also encouraging them to get creative and come up with original cheers and experiment with stunts they haven’t been able to try before.

Seniors Emma Meade and Elouise Lawrence were voted to become team captains by the team. They both bring “a lot of skill,” organization and great leadership ability to the team, Bjarnson said.

“I don’t want to say they’re perfectionists, but they want them to have fun [and also] learn it correctly,” she said. “They’ve got great attitudes. They’re kind. They listen.”