Cheer team finally has permanent coach

The cheer team is leaping back into routine after experiencing a rough beginning to the season due to lack of a coach. But it seems that new head cheer coach Brianna Shearer is here to stay.

Shearer previously coached in Pop Warner, the nation’s largest youth football and cheerleading organization, before coming to the school at the end of November to take over as head coach. Though Shearer is new to Saratoga, she is no stranger to the Bay Area. She graduated from San Jose High School, where she was also a cheerleader.

Sophomore Summer Smith said the team and Shearer are getting along well.

“We have not had her as a coach for very long, but so far she seems great,” Smith said. “She's different from other coaches because she actually does the conditioning she asks us to do, whereas most of our coaches have said that they will, but stopped after a couple days. [Shearer] has stuck with it and we all love her for it. She is quickly winning over our hearts (which is not a piece of cake to do).”

Shearer and the girls worked quickly to prepare a routine that they performed at the rally on Dec. 6.

“She is nice and is doing great with what she has been given,” sophomore Cayla Zelanis said. “She was able to help us form a routine for the rally in a short week and a half.”

The team started having regular weekly practices as of Jan. 6, in hopes of getting their season back on track. They are currently practicing and performing cheers at the boys’ and girls’ basketball games. Smith said the girls are hopeful for a competition team, but are unsure when it will begin, since competition season has started in Decembers in past years. They do not know whether they will compete in Anaheim for the Spirit Championships this May.

“The team is getting back into routine, but after being out of it for so long, it's a little difficult,” Zelanis said. “[Shearer] knows that some of the seniors were really looking forward to competing during their last year, and she wants to give them that chance.”