A high school cheer team does a variety of things around their campus. Along with cheering for their sports teams, they also spread school spirit around the school during pep rallies and spirit days. They also help the community get involved with various activities. Gena Kirk is in her sixth season of leading the Stilwell cheer team and says that they enjoy being involved in all the different activities throughout the community and helping to boost the Stilwell Indian pride.

“Every year we walk in the Cherokee Holiday Parade in Tahlequah,” she said. “This past year was our third year of participating in the parade. We placed first in the walk category. We were selected as the team with the best sportsmanship at cheer camps in the past. I’m just so happy to see our SHS cheerleaders bounce back with a heart full of spirit after dealing with Covid-19.”

Along with doing a lot of community events, the Lady Indians cheer team also makes sure that their team chemistry is where it should be by doing different activities together.

“Traveling to away games is always fun,” Kirk stated. “I think just being together as a group is always fun. I plan a fun trip at the end of the school year for hte team so we can end the year with a bang.”

Though they enjoy fun activities and spending time together, Kirk’s squad knows what it takes to be prepared and ready when the lights come on.

“My teams biggest strengths are teamwork and working overtime,” she said. “They all love to cheer and they like to do what is best for the team no matter what. They work very hard representing the Stilwell Indians Athletics. My older athlete love to put new dances together and use them for the pep rallies.”