Samira Esparza, senior, is a new addition this year to the Los Banos cheer team.
Esparza found it to be the perfect time to try out for the cheer team.
“I’ve always wanted to try out, but I was scared to,” she said. “You know I thought it’s senior year, so I might as well try out.”
Despite her initial fears, she quickly fell in love with the activity. When asked if she enjoyed cheering she said, “Yes, I love it.”
Esparza revealed that when she was younger, she had participated in mini cheer. It is a program for young girls who are cheerleading and take part in a routine with other cheerleaders from Los Banos High School during one of their football games.
She mentioned how being a part of that led her to want to try out for cheerleading as well.
The satisfaction of remembering different kinds of cheers to perform on the sidelines and hitting stunts during halftime performances became one of her favorite parts of cheerleading overall.
Esparza also expressed that the lasting friendships that she has been able to make with the other girls on the team have been one of the most rewarding aspects of the whole experience.
“Being able to push myself to hit stunts and remembering cheers and being a part of something, being able to be friends with all the girls, it’s all been amazing,” Esparza said.
Trying out for cheer was a big step out of her comfort zone.
When asked about offering advice to other girls who might be interested in joining the cheer team, she said, “Do it. If you think you won’t make it, do it anyway. Be confident in yourself.”
Esparza shared that something she struggled with when she first began cheering was getting used to the new schedule and having to account for practice and games.
Her game day routine starts at six once she arrives at Loftin Stadium where she warms up with all the other girls and goes through routines as well as practicing their halftime performance to make sure it’s flawless by halftime.
By 7 p.m., she will then go stage her cheer box to start cheering.
A little while before the second quarter ends, Esparza and the team practice their performance one last time before they go out to the field.
As her senior year progresses, Esparza is determined to make the most of her experience.
