Greene County cheerleading is preparing for a new season with a focus on growth, development, and building for the future.
The Tigers will continue to provide sideline support during football games this fall, while also taking steps toward eventually competing in game-day cheer. Although the program will not compete this season, the team plans to attend a game-day competition to learn more about the format and gain valuable experience.
The team has already started preparing athletes for developing new skills.
“We will be sideline, but we have been working,” head coach Aleah Callaway said. “We just had a camp about two weeks ago, and we will be working toward eventually being game day competition.”
The Greene County team has focused on improving its stunting skills, with both the junior varsity and varsity squads making progress. Callaway said the JV team is learning the basics of stunting, while varsity is continuing to build on previous experience and learn more advanced skills.
This season, the Tigers will attend a game-day competition to see firsthand what the experience is like and use it as preparation for when Greene County eventually competes.
“We will actually be going to a game-day competition just so the girls can see what game day looks like to prepare for next year,” Callaway said. “Eventually we will get there; we’ll work toward it.”
The opportunity is especially meaningful for Callaway, who is entering her third season as head coach and is a Greene County graduate herself.
“It feels really good, just so the girls can get exposed to something different and see that it’s more than just sideline,” Callaway said. “There is more to it, and there are scholarship opportunities, so they can get exposed to different things besides sidelines.”
While the program works toward adding competition cheer in the future, sideline cheer will remain an important part of the Tigers’ athletic events. Callaway said cheerleaders play a key role in creating energy and engaging fans during games.
“I think cheerleading is important for crowd engagement,” Callaway said. “It’s especially important to engage the crowd, get them excited about what’s going on out on the field, and support the football players.”
The Tigers are also looking to increase crowd involvement this season, including during their upcoming scrimmage game.
Callaway said this year’s roster features a young group, with most of the squad made up of freshmen. Their youth provides an opportunity to build a strong foundation for the future of the program, she said.
“I’m excited about molding this specific group of girls to be game day eventually, and to see what cheerleading is all about,” Callaway said. “I feel like I get to kind of start over and start fresh with this group of girls.”
Greene County returns four seniors this season: Autumn Salters, Madison Hobes, Tirajai Heath, and Zakiyah Robbins. All four have been members of the cheerleading program throughout their high school careers.
Callaway said their leadership will be important as younger athletes continue to learn and grow.
“I feel like they are kind of setting the standard,” Callaway said. “A lot of our younger girls are looking toward them. Just to see them and see what they do and see what they’ve accomplished is helping my younger girls feel more confident about themselves and see how fun cheerleading can be.”
As the program continues to grow, Callaway said she is excited to witness the progress this group can make and the opportunities ahead for Greene County cheerleading.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how it will turn out,” she said.