To Be a Deerfield Cheerleader

As the fall athletic season began, Deerfield held its annual cheerleading tryouts in the Hess Auditorium on September 15. Taking place right after sit-down, the cheerleading tryouts brought together students, returning cheerleaders, and this year’s roster of eager upperclassmen candidates. 

To be a cheerleader, upperclassmen signed up via the form on the student bulletin weeks before. Then, candidates formed groups of three and choreographed a routine, often consisting of two to five minutes of dancing in fun costumes, an original cheer, and a classic Deerfield cheer. Some of the popular choices this year included “Aga-Chi” and “Hail Deerfield.”

Right after tryouts took place, the returning cheerleaders and Sports Information Director Carly Barbato gathered together as the decision panel. First, they designed a rubric based on the good qualities of a good cheerleader. Then, they rewatched the performances group by group, person by person, and assessed each candidate based on the criteria discussed previously. While the rubric remains a mystery, Captain Deerfield Emmanuel Atiegha ’27, shared that one moment from this year’s tryouts that he found especially memorable was when James Bellig ’27 did a backflip on stage. 

Finally, new cheerleaders were announced at the fall season pep rally led by the existing cheerleaders the Friday one week after tryouts. Students packed into the Kravis to hear the state of this year’s fall varsity teams and watch the long-awaited new cheerleading roster. After much anticipation, new cheerleaders were called up by grade and gender and asked to do the Deerfield Battle Cry. 

Congratulations to this year’s new cheerleaders: James Bellig ’27, Gage Calhoun ’27, Ava Cederholm ’27, Amelia Healey ’27, Howard Jin ’27, Gianluca Simonelli ’27, Kaylin Alvarez ’28, Cole Bannon ’28, Erin Dunne ’28, Zeina Matouk ’28, Uyi Inomwan ’28, Stephen Gomez ’28, Zeina Matouk ’28 and Willow Tugume ’28

Hear what the new cheerleaders have to say about their new position:

Zeina Matouk ’28: “One important thing that me and the other new cheerleaders want to do is show all the love through going to games and supporting one another, and just being really out there.”

Willow Tugume ’28: “Being a cheerleader is a given opportunity to share the joy I have with the underclassmen and people that are new to the environment.”

Ava Cederholm ’27: “I’d always looked at the cheerleaders as the epitome of support and inclusion…this group of people that were so confident and focused on representing Deerfield and showing people that it’s okay to be spirited…so it was very rewarding to become a new cheerleader.”

Gianluca Simonelli ’27: “Being a cheerleader is a great way to inspire people to buy in to the community and make them appreciate everything Deerfield has given them.”

Howard Jin ’27:  “I wanted to be a cheerleader because it gives me the opportunity to be a part of a positive influence on a great community of people who are passionate and willing to support their peers.”