MHS Cheerleading Squad Ready to Root for the Home Team [VIDEO]

The 18 members of 's cheering squad do much more than cheerlead. Every year, during the fall sports season, this spirited group regularly goes above and beyond to support our local athletes.

The MHS cheering squad was the first of the high school's teams to hit the practice field in preparation for the 2011 season. The team started workouts and conditioning sessions as a unit two weeks ago, and they typically spend at least two hours a day working on routines during the season.

The cheerleaders yell for the home team of course, but this group also incorporates dance, gymnastics and precise choreography into their high-energy routines.

“The team works incredibly hard, they really bust it when we practice,” cheering coach Terrie Cook said. “I get more nervous when they start than when I was cheering myself. They work so hard and they’re so passionate about what they do, they deserve all the credit I can give them.”

Cook grew up in Wakefield and participated in cheering and dance for the Warriors when she was in high school. She has an extensive background in dance and cheering and once performed in a New Kids on the Block music video.

Cook is heading into her 11th season with the MHS cheering squad and said it has been a great experience.

“Rod (former MHS athletic director Rod Pickard) an I hit it off right away, he’s a wonderful man, and it’s such a thrill to be coaching here in Marblehead,” Cook said.

In addition to their duties raising the spirits of the crowd at sporting events, the team enters both regional and national competitions every year. In 2007 Cook’s squad took first place in a national cheering competition in Orlando, Fla.

Cook’s tri-captains for the 2011 season are seniors, Emily Katz and Paige Federman; and junior, Jillian Whiting.

“This is my fourth year on the cheering team,” Katz said. “I enjoy what we do and it fits in nicely with my gymnastics background, tumbling was my specialty, that’s my favorite part of cheering.”

Katz’s twin brother Joel is the co-captain of the 2011 Magicians football team with Will Quigley and Oliver Gregory.

The team can’t wait for opening night on Sept. 9, when the Magicians take on Pentucket at 7 p.m. at Piper Field.

“I love performing in front of a crowd, I get a little bit nervous, but it’s a good nervous, there’s a lot of adrenaline going, very exciting to be out there in front of all the people,” junior co-captain Jillian Whiting said.

“We work very hard, and it’s really thrilling when we’re on the field,” Paige Federman said. “We work so hard and we’ve become such good friends from spending all this time together, it’s great to be on this team.”

“This group is so dedicated to what they do, they’re a pleasure to be around,” Cook said.  “We went from tenth place in the league my first year up to third place the next, and we look to improve as a team every year.”

This year’s squad includes: Captains Paige Federman, Emily Katz and Jillian Whiting. Federman and Katz are seniors, Whiting a junior. The tri-captains will be cheering and tumbling with Leah Harris, Eva Conte, David Monahan, Lauren Drooks, Rowan Easterbrooks, Caroline Vanah, Sofia Rietti, Hazel Carrion, Olivia Tucker, Lydia Smith, Christina Rossetti, Anna Rafferty, Brookelyn Stephens, Haley Andrews and Brianna Romanow.

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