SEAGULL PRIDE
Cheer squad committed to ‘110 percent’ Boosters celebrate
Cheer from Page 8B
During tryouts, students are evaluated and
must meet a benchmark which tests their abil-
ity to move and perform routines individually
and in groups. What Mount looks for in each
student is attitude, scoring and interaction, not-
ing the student’s commitment and willingness
to compete.
“Sometimes we’ll have alternates, but I
have some pretty hard-working kids, and most
of them — now that we are able to compete
and perform and be competitive that way —
want to be a part of that because that’s some-
thing Seaside’s not had before,” Mount said.
“It’s really a big deal for them and they work
really hard and they want to be out there.”
There are 15 members on this year’s squad
including four captains: seniors Miaya Ritter-
by and Stella Samuelson, and juniors Sydney
Rapp and Caitlin Hillman. And, though there
are no boys to help with lifts, this team of 15
girls endure with strength and a can-do attitude.
“I have three solid stunt groups and we
have already mastered the ‘ground up lib,’ ”
Mount said, as well as fulls and flipping pyr-
amids. Mount noted it was nice to have guys
on the squad a few years ago, but despite not
being co-ed, “we’re not going to let not having
guys stop us from achieving some pretty cool
stunts,” she said.
The captains
This is senior Stella Samuelson’s fourth
year on the cheer squad and her strong belief of
giving 110 percent only makes the team stron-
ger. “What I want to achieve for this team is
to have everybody feel welcome, feel like they
have a place here and enjoy the season — win
or lose, just have a good time.”
Junior Caitlin Hillman brings her pageant
experience to cheer, noting that both are sim-
ilar in learned skills and providing mentorship,
which is something she wants to continue. “I
know what it’s like to be a mentor. Being in-
volved in my community, pageants and cheer,
they all kind of go hand in hand and I feel it’s
helped me become the best version of myself
and the mentorship is what I love and what I
want to continue with outside of high school.”
Junior Sydney Rapp loves being on the
squad and the teamwork helps her in her sum-
GO
GULLS!
GOOD LUCK
TO ALL FALL
ATHLETES,
TEAMS &
COACHES!!
mer job. “Since I’m already using that in life
to help get along with co-workers, problem
solving and everything, I would just like to be
there for someone and be a positive role model.
I think it would be really nice when I’m older
and have a career to know that I did something
good for someone.”
The captains agreed they would like to see
everyone get involved. “We want to embody
the whole student body this year, for them to
feel welcome and to connect, and let them
know it’s cool to be involved and its cool to
cheer at games.”
For this year’s Clatsop Clash, Seaside’s
cheer squad reached out to the Astoria High
School squad, and together, they will perform
at half-time. “We think it’s a pretty cool thing.
Sportsmanship is very important to my team
and it’s one of the values I’m really trying to
instill in them that you can have a rivalry, but
still be pleasant and get along,” Mount said.
“We’re going to show both of our communi-
ties that that’s how our cheer teams are going
to operate.”
The Clatsop Clash takes place Friday,
Sept. 21, at Broadway Field.
students’ success
Boosters from Page 10B
Gilligan and Bennett agree it’s not only the par-
ents who provide support, but the community as a
whole. “The community is very passionate about
supporting their kids,” Bennett said.
Anyone can become involved with Boosters
and they do not have to be parents to be members.
“My children have been out of school since 2011.
There are several of us like that — we just can’t
walk away. We love doing this,” Gilligan said.
Like many clubs, the Boosters are seeking new
members who they can mentor to become leaders
and take over club duties. Currently, there are 80
members.
For Bennett, being part of Boosters has been a
longtime family tradition, one she’s glad to contin-
ue.
“Without our 80 businesses or families, we
wouldn’t be able to provide our kids with any-
thing.” Bennett said. “It all goes right back to the
kids, We love that we are able to give to every de-
partment in every school. The support this commu-
nity offers is incredible.”
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Seaside Signal/Cannon Beach Gazette • 11
