One last time

Freshman takes her final bow as competitive cheerleader

Williams+is+lit%E2%80%94literally%E2%80%94at+the+Battle+of+the+Bell+at+House+Park+on+Oct.+27.

Dave Winter

Williams is lit—literally—at the Battle of the Bell at House Park on Oct. 27.

Merrill Price, Mac photojournalism
May 21, 2023

2 minutes 30 seconds. 

All for one, one for all. 

“

It has forced me to keep going when I feel like I cant.

— freshman Lilia Williams

Fear, excitement and adrenaline course through Lilia Williams as she steps onto the competition stage to compete for the first time as a competitive cheerleader.

Lilia Williams felt a home she stepped into Cheer Station at age 12. She watched a team of girls who became more than just friends; they became sisters. After a year of dreaming about being a part of this someday, she decided to try out, and she made the team.

 Although she was so happy to have made the team, the realities of that success soon hit. The time commitment, money and impact on her mental health. Lilia was doing four-plus hours of work every week, on top of school and cheer privates to keep her skills perfect. Crying, yelling, brutal team practices. Lilia came to school stressed and in a bad mindset. Everyone had two ambitions in common: to hit their routine and win Summit. Lilia remembers the drive of the team at that time, which has carried into everyday life.

“It has forced me to keep going when I feel like I can’t.”

The team made it to Summit that year, the best competition you can go to.  The outcome of this competition wasn’t their best, but Lilia knew she had next season.

But Lilia wasn’t able to commit to the team again when she made her high school cheer team. The season started at Cheer Station, and she resigned. Nothing broke her heart more than leaving. 

During the season, a girl got hurt and they called Lilia back for one competition. She had a lot of emotions: scared to mess up and sad for her last competition. 

The music stopped for the last time, she knew she would never compete again. 

2 minutes, 30 seconds.

Hit, pose, done.

More on McCallum cheer
GETTING IN THE SPIRIT: On Saturday, Aug. 20, the cheer team gathered at the Domain Northside for a cheer-off against the Anderson cheer squad. Freshman Vivian Medina thought the cheer-off helped prepare her for cheering at the Taco Shack football game. “The cheer-off help me feel out what it would be like to cheer in front of a crowd,” she said. “It helped me overcome some of my nerves and got me excited [for] the game.” Despite narrowly losing the Domain cheer-off and the football game, Medina felt that this year’s Taco Shack was still a positive learning experience for the cheer team. “I was a little disappointed but I know there’s always next year. We know now what we can work on and what we can improve.” 
New kids on the pyramid
‘ONE TWO’ THREE GO: Seniors Nia Wayman, Sophia Kramer and Olivia Falcon lead the team’s formation in hip hop number ‘One Two Step,’ choreographed by Caroline Cullers. Wayman enjoyed conveying the intensity of the number to the audience.  “My favorite part would have to be the headspring whackpack kip-up,” Wayman said. Overall, though, Wayman found this year’s spring show to be bittersweet as she said goodbye to the people and program that had been a part of her life for so many years.  “I was excited throughout but I was also sad that it was the last time I would dancing as part of Blue Brigade,” she said.  Caption by Francie Wilhelm.
A Knight of glitz and 'glamour'
MUMS AND MEMORIES: Seniors Gia Ruedas, Stephanie Renee, Kayden Williams and Ary Sanchez wear their mums proudly on White Out Day. Ruedas said that getting to wear a mum as a senior was a dream come true. “I have had a mum every year since I was 3 years old,” Ruedas said. “My mom always made them for me but this year I decided to do it on my own. I’ve always looked forward to my senior year to finally make my final mum and make it special. It made my homecoming special because it was the last mum I was going to ever make for myself.” Ruedas said her favorite part of homecoming is spirit days, which was made even more fun by the introduction of Soccer Mom vs. BBQ Dad Day. As a cheerleader, Ruedas was excited to show off what the cheer team had been working on during the pep rally on White Out Day. But experiencing her last McCallum homecoming was bittersweet.  “When I graduate I’m going to miss everything about McCallum homecoming,” Ruedas said. “Making my mum, dressing up for spirit days, seeing the decorated hallways, performing in the pep rallies and especially being on the sideline cheering for our school football team.”
Mac pulls out all the stops for Homecoming 2022