While summer is a time that most school sports programs are in hibernation, it’s a time when the cheer program at a school is just ramping up and that is the case at Talihina High School where Amber Collins is preparing her first high school cheer squad for the upcoming school year.

“I didn’t cheer in school, but I’ve always been interested in it so a couple of years ago I volunteered to take on the junior high program when they needed someone and then I was recruited this past spring to take on the high school program,” said Collins.

So the preparations started with a short on-campus camp where the girls learned one big routine and three smaller dances that they’ll work on during the summer.

“We’ll practice once a week in June because I teach summer school so my time is limited and then we’ll go twice a week in July,” said Collins whose team will consist of three seniors and underclassmen down to a freshman that she coached at junior high this past year.

Collins has some definite goals that she would like to establish for the program in her first year.

“The first thing will be to pick a captain and co-captain. I put together a points system where the girls earn points for various activities and can work in a captain and co-captain manual for additional points, and we’ll name those at the end of July. Next is creating a belonging, inclusive environment on the team. I’ve had the girls put together some team-building activities to help build long lasting friendships and finally I want to try and build up our school spirit which I feel is lagging a little. I’d like to get back into doing pep rallies if allowed and things like banners and goody baskets to support the players, coaches and even teachers. I’d also eventually like to get us into competitive Game Day cheering.”

In addition to learning their new material, the cheer squad will also be active in promoting cheer to the younger set.

“This summer I’ve got six or seven girls that have volunteered to help out at a summer school cheer champ for the little kids and then next school year we’ll conduct little cheer champs before the football and basketball seasons where the little ones will learn from the big girls and then perform what they’ve learned at a game which is a lot of fun,” said the new cheer coach. “I’ve got three groups of girls that work on stunts and four girls that are into tumbling so we can actually do more than I thought we were going to be able to do.”