High School Playbook

When the McCaskey football team stepped on the field for their first game with Head Coach David Given, they gave fans and cheerleaders plenty to cheer about! User jazz1980 caught some of the cheers on camera and earned the McCaskey Cheerleaders the honor of Cheer of the Week!

Congratulations Red Tornadoes!  

Go To McCaskey's School Page >>

They were declared Cheer of the Week, and they came back for some more. The McCaskey Cheerleaders were doing their thing on the sidelines and user jazz1980 got some great stuff on camera. Enjoy!

The Red Tornadoes show off their jumping skills…

…and a few lifts…

…do a little cheer…

…and finish up with a stunt.

Red Lion cheerleaders are showing support for those serving our country this football season.

Squad members are collecting personal items for “Project Soldier.” Some of the cheerleaders have friends and family members in the military.

“The soldiers, you hear about it, it’s important, but once you have somebody you love that’s in it, you really start to care about it. You want to get involved more,” says junior Nicole Pitilis. Her sister’s boyfriend is being deployed to Iraq.

Starting next week, there will be collection boxes for “Project Soldier” at York County businesses.

The cheerleaders will collect personal items like sunscreen, shaving cream, and powder through the end of the football season. They are also accepting donations.

To find out how to donate, contact Beck Ort at bort112297@comcast.net.

Back in February, we did a little Life Of A Student Athlete installment on the Senior Level 5 team from Synergy Elite Cheer.

The Level 6 team, also known as Synergy G-Force represents the highest level of All-State cheerleading with members from all across the Susquehanna Valley. The squad consists of 33 cheerleaders ranging from 17-31 who tumble, dance, perform stunts and, well, cheer! 

G-Force traveled to the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA for the Battle at the Capitol All-Star Cheer & Dance Nationals – one of the most prestigious national championships on the east coast.

At the Battle at the Capitol, Synergy G-Force performed their way to first place and one of our users got it all on tape!

Chapter 1 will take you through all the preparation that went into their championship day performance.

Chapter 2 documents championship day from beginning to end, and includes their winning routine!

Synergy G-Force has competed in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Glen Burnie, Wilmington, and Fairfax. Their next goal is the U.S. Finals at Virginia Beach in early May.  

It's time for the perfect cheer…

Basketball district playoffs brought out the best in all of us, including the cheerleaders! New Oxford showed off their lifts - and a cheer, but it was Dallastown who took the Cheer of the Week title.

The Dallastown Wildcats are this week's cheer off winner, claiming the crown of Cheer of the Week!

Congrats Wildcats! Check out their stunts and posters used to pump up the fans!

Other Stuff That Gives Us Something To Cheer About:

Article: Synergy brings the spirit!

Article: Cheerleading Dubbed A Contact Sport

Video: McCaskey Varsity Stunts

Video: On the sidelines with the Buckskins

Video: Parks and Rec cheerleaders teams up with the Boiling Springs varsity squad

Images: Lancaster Catholic Cheerleaders (courtesy of LCHS Mom)

Students from various schools around the Susquehanna Valley come together for one thing: to cheer.

Synergy is a competitive cheer squad consisting of students that range from ages 11-18. While coach Liz Johnson doesn’t have any problems with the age range, she does admit that it’s been a tough season. Of course, being in one of the hardest divisions will have that affect on any team.

So what is it like to be on a cheerleading team that has a bid to Worlds? Check out the latest installment of “Life of a Student Athlete” and see what Synergy is all about!

Previous Installments: 

What do a 171 pound wrestler, a forward on the boy's basketball team, and a forward on the girl's basketball team all have in common? Senior year at Conestoga Valley and a packed winter schedule!

What's it like to be the student who does it all? Ask ELCO senior Nate Bicher.

For years the debate has been whether cheerleading is a real sport or just an activity. Now, the dispute can be settled once and for all: cheerleading is considered a contact sport.

On January 27^th, 2009, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that high school cheerleading is in fact a contact sport. According to the ruling, high school cheerleaders cannot sue a teammate for accidently causing injuries.

This decision is the first of its kind in the nation, but many cheerleaders are quick to tell you there is a lot of physical contact, strength, and talent involved to make it look good.

So, do you think cheerleading is a contact sport?

Leave your comments below, and check out some of the cheerleaders from around the Susquehanna Valley!

Cheerleaders In Action

Video: McCaskey Varsity Stunts

Video: Susquehanna Township struts their stuff

Video: On the sidelines with the Buckskins

Video: Indian Valley flips for Football Friday

Video: Parks and Rec cheerleaders teams up with the Boiling Springs varsity squad

Images: Conestoga Valley gets ready for Football Friday

Images: Lancaster Catholic Cheerleaders (courtesy of LCHS Mom)

National Coverage

ESPN: Court rules cheerleading is a contact sport

NBC Sports: Cheerleading is contact sport, Wisc. court rules

Our VJs scoured the Susquehanna Valley to find the cheerleaders with the most school spirit. Here are the results based on your votes!

Third Place: Susquehanna Township shows off their skills. 

Second Place: The Carlisle Thundering Herd put together a little song and dance, minus the song!

And Our Winner Of The Cheer Off Is....the Columbia cheerleaders. They have spirit, do you?

Thanks for the votes and stay tuned for another round of "Cheer Off!"