The PACA Spirit Rising: the Cheerleading Team prepares for their Upcoming Tournament

The PACA cheerleaders performing a stunt in the Graded basketball game. Front row: Melissa Souza, Ligia Penteado, Ana Beatriz Mestre, Eva Castro, Carolina Cândido, and Sofia Saldaña. Back Row: Sophia Vergara, Anita Silva, Rafaela Verardo, Sophia Lima and Bianca Magalhães. [Picture by Dr. Cristina Meier]

by Ana Luisa Helfer

PACA Cheerleaders take to the Graded basketball court on Wednesday, October 8, to practice their cheers and half-time routines in order to prepare for the NR Varsity Tournament coming up in the last week of October of the 2025-2026 school year. 

Behind their perfect smiles, their sharp movements and their contagious energy, the PACA cheerleaders put in countless hours of practice and hard work to achieve their best performance. The journey is filled with determination, resilience and teamwork.

So many things are involved in their preparation for the tournament. Each practice is carefully planned and organized by Mrs. Flurry, the varsity cheerleading coach.

“We will be creating and learning new cheers to lead our team and fans to victory,” said Flurry. “In the past this has always been the norm plus a dance routine was performed. This is the first year that the two will be separated, sideline cheering judged this semester and the dance routine judged next semester.”

Apart from all the practice and hard work, the cheerleaders also have to learn how to balance and manage schoolwork as well as their mental health and personal needs.

Sophia Lima, a 9th grade cheerleader is also part of the varsity soccer team.

“To be honest it is not an easy task, since sports drain a lot of energy, especially when you live far from school,” said Lima. “Normally, I try my best to complete all my work in school so that at school I can rest for the next school day.”

As the tournament approaches, the pressure grows stronger. Apart from the challenges that come with each practice, the cheerleaders can learn many lessons from training. 

As explained by the cheerleading coaches, they learn how to work as a team, with unity and discipline. They also learn that sometimes you just have to push forward and leave all the fear, anxiety and mistakes aside.

When the day of the tournament finally arrives, all the effort, sweat and pain pays off with a breathtaking performance. 

Whether they win or lose, the cheer girls always walk away stronger, (physically and mentally) knowing they’ve grown; not just as athletes, but as people. 

In the end, the real victory isn’t a trophy, but the connection they built together as a team, as so many of the cheerleaders have expressed this year.