On Thursday, Oct. 5, cheerleaders, band and band front members arrived to provide some extra school spirit as the varsity team took on rival Hollidaysburg.

According to members of these groups, much preparation happens before the season and each game.

Eighth grader Alexis Starr is a varsity majorette who supports the teams.

“My mom and whole family twirled, and they were all featured at Altoona when they were in school. I’m super excited when I’m featured in the half time show,” Starr said.

According to band front members, long hours of preparation come before the shows.

Starr has been in majorettes for a year now, she explained there are lots of reasons she enjoys being in the band front.

“I think meeting new friends each year that join is one of my favorite things about being in the band front,” Starr said. “I’m super excited when I’m featuring during the halftime show, but if I mess up everyone is watching me and I need to fix my mistake quickly. I also love the feeling when I know I did good though,” Starr said.

Starr tells us practices for band front can be brutal.

“Band camp for very long hours every day has to be the hardest part of practicing for majorettes.” Starr said.

Starr loves performing during the halftime show at the ninth grade football games.

“I think having the band, band front and the cheerleaders is good for entertainment and to cheer on the football team and that’s how it impacts the game,” Starr said.

Starr believes that there could be many downfalls to not having the band, band front and cheerleaders during the football game.

“Without the band, band front and cheerleaders I think the game would be very boring and the football team wouldn’t have people to cheer them on,” Starr said.

Emily Latten is one of the ninth grade band conductors. She began in seventh grade and she explained that she loves the band and everything necessary to keep it going smoothly.

“My favorite thing is interacting with everyone who is in the band, and band front,” Latten said.

Latten plays the alto saxophone for the varsity band.

“I’m afraid of messing up my commands when I’m out on the stage. One mess up and everyone else is confused and off beat, and it’s all my fault,” Latten said. “I think just having everyone there in uniform and with their instruments and stuff makes the game more exciting.”

“If the band, band front and cheerleaders weren’t there, the game would be quieter and people would probably pay more attention to the game that’s going on,” Latten said.

Ninth grader Sophia Roefaro is a co-captain of the cheerleading squad. Roefaro feels she has always been full of energy and cheerleading is her calling. Roefaro started cheerleading in eighth grade.

“I think just being able to show my school spirit and being with my teammates on the field is the greatest thing,” Roefaro said.

According to Roefaro, she had previously been in cheerleading while in elementary school.

“My biggest supporter is probably my mom; she was a cheerleader too,” Roefaro said. “In general I’m just afraid of being in front of such a large crowd in case I mess up, but overall it’s exciting because I’m on the field with a bunch of my teammates.”

“I believe that all the band, band front and the cheerleaders bring more attention and spirit to the games,” Roefaro said.

Roefaro tells us that it would be unthinkable to not have any of the band, band front or cheerleaders at the games. She thinks the impact they have is huge.

“Without the band, band front and cheerleaders there the game would just be gloomy!” Roefaro said.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Joleyna Martino

The cheerleaders walk onto the field before the football game starts,. Photo by Joleyna Martino