The class of 2024 cheerleaders pose for a picture with their family members during halftime at the boys varsity basketball game on Feb. 2. The team increased its numbers from three to 15 cheerleaders this year.
The class of 2024 cheerleaders pose for a picture with their family members during halftime at the boys varsity basketball game on Feb. 2. The team increased its numbers from three to 15 cheerleaders this year.
Brandon Zau

Cheer team honors seniors

by Katerina Matta, Co-Sports Editor
February 15, 2024
Categories:
Anaya Mandal (12) affectionately rubs her mother’s hand during the cheer senior night ceremony on Feb. 2. “All of the seniors, in their own way, bring so much energy to the team,” cheerleader Kashish Priyam (11) said. (Brandon Zau)

The cheer team celebrated senior night during the varsity boys basketball game against Menlo at home on Feb. 2. 

The squad performed encouraging cheers on the sideline for the first half of the basketball game. At half time, the team showcased a new routine to “Let’s Get Loud” choreographed by the six senior team members: James Blenko, Katherine Fields, Anaya Mandal, Divya Venkat, co-captain Sarah Westgate and Owen White. The routine ended with each of the seniors executing two thigh stands as the rest of the team shook their pom poms. 

Following the set, the seniors’ family members joined their loved ones’ on the floor for the main ceremony. The seniors’ teammates formed a walkway as head coach Chantell Rodriguez read messages for each of the graduating members of the squad. They also received personalized gifts and cards as well as flowers from their teammates. Katherine commented on the warmth she felt from her teammates throughout the night.

“I felt really loved,” Katherine said. “All the underclassmen were crying, and they got us gifts and flowers. It was just a great way to end the season.” 

Katherine’s brother, Robert Fields (11), similarly highlighted the team’s sense of community after accompanying his sister in the ceremony. 

Seniors Claire Bauschlicher, Harshini Chaturvedula and Mina Okamoto cheer on their classmates during the cheer senior night ceremony. This year’s squad featured six graduating members.
(Brandon Zau)

“It was really cool to see how much the team bonded,” Robert said. “They were all very supportive of each other, and that showed a really cool team dynamic among them.” 

This year, the cheer team underwent a major expansion, jumping from three members last year to 15 now. Cheer co-captain Kashish Priyam (11) pointed to the seniors’ legacy in shaping the team’s environment and paving the way for the underclassmen. Both James and Sarah constituted the original trio with Kashish.  

“All of the seniors, in their own way, bring so much energy to the team,” Kashish said. “The team is what it is because of the people and the trust that exists. In cheer, a lot of it is really hands-on—you have to be good with the people on your team. The seniors have really helped model that for the underclassmen and for me.”