Schools

Wildcats! The Bethel Cheerleaders (Video)

The BHS cheerleaders love the energy of the fans and the sports.

Being a cheerleader means many things to this group of girls, all of whom range from freshman to seniors at .  For Julia Fernandes, 16, being a cheerleader has become an important part of her life. “I love the energy of the football games,” she said.

 Before Molly Barnum, 14, joined cheerleading, she was worried about entering  high school. She was afraid she would be overwhelmed and wouldn't have any friends, but being a cheerleader gave her a place to fit in right away.

Jaylynn Singleton has always wanted to be a cheerleader. Some of her friends thought that meant she was going to have to be cheerful all the time, but she said that was not really the case.

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 Most of the girls believed they were not the stereotypical cheerleaders. They weren't necessarily the most popular or the most preppy. Instead, they are girls who enjoy athletics such as gymnastics and as spectators at football and basketball games.

 Many of them have been cheering since they were very young. Christine Graffeo, 16, has been cheering since first grade and Brianna Piva, 14, began when she was just five years old. Some were involved in other sports that led them to cheerleading. “I did gymnastics for 11 years,” Jordan Kanulicz, 16, said. “I didn't want to compete anymore, and cheering was less time consuming.”

Find out what's happening in Bethelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 The girls all said they were indebted to their coach, Vicky Butler, 26, who is a former college cheerleader and is a Spanish teacher at Bethel High School. “I kept seeing that the girls needed a coach, and I finally decided to do it. I really like the group,” she said.

 If Butler had not joined on as coach, there might not have been cheerleaders this year. The students lost a month of practice while the school searched for a coach, but they are thrilled that Butler took the job. “She brought us together, she is very motivating,” Singleton said.


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