Hahnville and Destrehan High School cheerleaders suit up for cheers, competitions and team spirit
Along with Friday night lights and game-winning touchdowns, comes perhaps one of the most joyful components of a high school football game – the cheerleaders. Or as many like to call them, the Sideline Sweethearts.
Both Destrehan and Hahnville High Schools have ultimate high-energy squads who perform at their peak when in front of a crowd.
“All of our cheerleaders must be able to perform in public,” said head cheerleader sponsor Angie Dufrene. “Each year we have at least 40 to 60 girls try out and only the ones who can represent DHS at the highest level are chosen for the squad.”
Three boys and 24 girls make up this year’s DHS cheering fleet with performances that include dance routines and tumbling at both football and basketball games.
“The cheerleaders are required to cheer at all home basketball games, all championship games and at cheer competitions,” Dufrene said. “We travel with the football team every Friday night – rain or shine!”
DHS student Ariel Mayer, who runs the squad as captain, is required to create dances, cheers and competition routines throughout the school year with help from her co-captain Brandi Broussard.
Paige Hebert and Amber Arceneaux serve as the 1st and 2nd lieutenants. Hebert aids with creating dances and assists in instruction, while Arceneaux provides help with stunts, pyramids and team instructions.
“We pride ourselves on school spirit,” Dufrene said. “And we’re proud that we’ve added two more boys to our team.”
Dufrene says that what you see from the stands takes a lot of hard work and determination.
“The squad is required to practice every Tuesday and Thursday for almost two hours.”
And the same is true for HHS cheerleaders.
“Our girls are required to have three days of cheer practice each week in addition to one day of tumbling and athletic physical education two to three times a week,” said faculty sponsor Candice Reed.
“We pride ourselves on work ethic, personal drive, the desire to achieve and school spirit.”
Reeds says that, this year alone, over 60 girls auditioned to be a HHS cheerleader, but only 26 made the cut.
“Everyone on the squad must maintain a 2.5 grade point average, have a positive attitude, present teacher recommendations and perform a cheer, chant and dance routine in front our panel of judges in order to be considered for the team,” she said.
As a HHS cheerleader, girls are required to participate in a variety of activities such as UCA Camp, Kiddie Camp, girls and boys basketball games, 9th grade orientation and in the annual HHS talent show.
Reed also points out that all junior varsity cheerleaders are required to cheer at all varsity and junior varsity home games in addition to the Destrehan game each year.
HHS student Susan Naquin serves as the squad’s captain with the help from co-captains Brianna Triche and Marylane Champagne for varsity.
On junior varsity, Michelle Montet serves as captain and Rachelle Bethencourt is co-captain.
Reed serves as a faculty sponsor along with HHS faculty member Michelle Krumm.
“We expect our girls to support all sports at HHS and to be a positive member of the community by serving as a role model to other students,” Reed said.
For more information on the schools’ squads, visit the school board’s Web site at www.stcharles.k12.la.us.
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