Last week the Trojancheerleaders held a mini-camp to teach elementary students to cheer and dance, culminating in a performance at the varsity boys basketball game on Jan. 29th..
Peewee cheer camp, which lasted three days, is an opportunity for MUSD elementary students to learn cheers and dances similar to those done by the MHS cheer team, junior cheerleader Mikayla Quenga said. The cheerleaders also host football Peewee cheer during the fall semester, she said.
“The girls will be cheering alongside us on the sideline, and then they’ll also do a halftime dance with us,” Quenga said. “They’re basically cheerleaders for a day.”
This year has had a much higher turnout than in previous years, with 75 registered students compared to the usual 65, Quenga said. Many of the students were returners, and there have even been students who have participated from kindergarten to sixth grade, she added.
“We think it’s a really great opportunity because we’re basically prepping our future cheerleaders for our Milpitas High School,” Quenga said. “It’s just a really good way to fundraise and advertise our cheer team.”
The minority of students that didn’t choose to sign-up get mostly comfortable by the second day, Quenga said.
“Our coaches coach us to be interactive with the kids and make sure that they’re all comfortable and able to talk to us if they need to ask a question,” Quenga said. “It’s just a really good way for us to give back to our community.”
Most of the cheerleaders enjoy teaching kids in general, Quenga said. The cheerleaders and Peewee students dress up each day following a certain theme, like dressing according to grade color, to keep the Peewee students entertained and motivated, she said.
“The overall theme we chose for this week’s theme (was) ‘Descendants,’” Quenga said. “Like we’ve done ‘Descendants,’ ‘High School Musical,’ (and) a Disney theme.”
Peewee cheer is a great chance for her daughter to try cheerleading out for the first time since she enjoys dance, parent Kristine Buenafe said.
“I’m excited,” Bueanfe said. “This is something she’s never done before, so if she likes it, we can go and do more.”
Parent Tammy Lorber enrolled her children into the camp to have them experience the school and community as they just moved here, since children from multiple elementary schools attend, Lorber said.
“I’m sure they’re excited,” Lorber said. “You know, they have friends from different schools, and then their school and so that’s a big thing for them.”