As you step into Pinewood’s gym, the sound of electrifying chants, rattling pom-poms, and buzzing excitement fills the space.
The first of its kind in 30 years, Pinewood’s cheerleading team leads the crowd in various energetic chants. The cheerleading squad made its debut at a basketball doubleheader on Jan. 10 and has attended five games so far, creating a lively atmosphere for both the players and audience alike.
The squad is led by coaches Stephanie Fugita and Andrea Sanchez. Fugita was motivated to create the team because of her background in cheerleading, while Sanchez, who has a close relationship with the girls and a background in theater production, was the perfect fit to mentor the team.
Wishing to grow school spirit and pride, sophomore captain Meredith Reed was determined to start a cheer team that would do just that. Since 2024, Reed has been working to make her dream a reality, and she finally achieved her goal this year.
“After a couple years, I had mentioned the idea to multiple people and gotten tons of support, so I just decided to go forward with it,” Reed said.
The cheer team takes inspiration from online social media platforms as well as Fugita’s past experience in cheerleading. Everyone contributes by brainstorming new chants and cheers, and practices are
largely student-led, with Fugita and Sanchez allowing the team to navigate challenges independently.
Sophomore cheerleader Holland Grewal feels that learning new dances poses a challenge for their team, but doing it together makes it worth it.
“It’s very special and fun to be trying something new and paving our own path,” Grewal said.
Another cheerleader, sophomore Nerea Amezcua, joined the team because it provided a way for her to explore her passions for dance and cheer all at once. Along with her teammates, Amezcua has enjoyed supporting her friends at games.
“My favorite parts are getting the crowd hyped which adds excitement to the game and overall gives more positivity to the teams,” Amezcua said.
The cheerleading team, which also includes sophomores Olivia McGurk, Elle Karimi, Yesenia Stankevich, and Nova Weissman and freshman Alexis Eaton, has struggled to retain members throughout the season.
Fugita said she is prioritizing the importance of team culture as well the members’ well-being.
“I feel the emphasis is on having a positive attitude and being a good team member,” Fugita said. “Learning new skills is fun, and to put energy into something you’re passionate about is also a stress-reliever.”
In the future, the cheer team hopes to gain more members and be a consistent presence in many games.
“I hope we can accomplish getting more people to show up to games, cheer for our teams, and support each other to increase the spirit in the Pinewood community,” Amezcua said.
