The Lakeside cheerleaders are in Natchitoches this week to participate in a private cheer camp put on by Northwestern State University.
Thirteen Lakeside Warriors, along with coaches Madalyn Culpepper and Carrie Woodard, are spending two days and two nights at NSU to learn dances, a variety of cheers, stunting, and jump techniques.
Culpepper, who is a science teacher and former Lakeside cheerleader herself, said the camp is vital for numerous reasons.
“It is important for the girls to not only be trained and learn new material but to spend time together as a team,” she told us during a break from camp. “They all spend time together through the year, but this is the first activity they have to really get to know each other. We love cheer camp because it really secures that bond and trust for the rest of the year.”
She went on to say that nothing was normal last year due to the COVID pandemic. Because of the uncertainty of the world due to the virus, the squad did not have uniforms ordered, no summer practice, no camp, no set schedules, and had many questions that no one (literally no one) in the world could answer. America was paralyzed, and it was an uncertain time. The world is just now getting back to “normal.”
She said it is her hope that traditional activities like pep rallies, homecoming festivities, mini cheer camp, and more will be back in full swing come the fall.
As for the camp itself, she said Northwestern has been extraordinarily kind and helpful this week.
“They have asked us what the team needed and wanted and planned everything for them,” she said.
“The team is getting so much one-on-one help from coaches that cheer here, coach here, and have been on UCA staff. We are very excited to continue to work with them.”
Check back in the coming weeks for a look at the upcoming football season and more information from the Lakeside cheer squad.
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