Dartmouth High School cheer team cheers each other on
Taylor Beauparland and Cecelia Trahan pose in a stunt. Photos by Kat Sheridan
The cheerleaders practice their routine. 
Cecelia Trahan does a leg lift in a stunt. 
Cecelia Trahan flips out of a stunt. 
Isabella Cardoso mid-flip. 
Cecelia Trahan leaps. 
Cecelia Trahan does a split stunt.
Taylor Beauparland and Cecelia Trahan pose in a stunt. Photos by Kat Sheridan
The cheerleaders practice their routine.
Cecelia Trahan does a leg lift in a stunt.
Cecelia Trahan flips out of a stunt.
Isabella Cardoso mid-flip.
Cecelia Trahan leaps.
Cecelia Trahan does a split stunt.
“Everyone just thinks that we stand on the sidelines at the football games and do the little cheers, but they have no idea what it’s like behind the scenes,” said Cecela Trahan, a captain on the Dartmouth High School cheer team. “Cheer can be very dangerous.”
The cheerleaders don’t just cheer on the football team, but they also compete in competitions of their own and cheer each other on. Competition cheer season recently started and so far, the team has done well in all three competitions.
“I love this group of girls,” said Coach Rebecca Braga.
The team won second place in the first two competitions. With the knowledge that the third would be more difficult, their goal became to place in the top five. On Sunday, Nov. 2 that's exactly what they did, increasing their score to a 76.
At the latest competition on Saturday, Nov. 8, they placed first in their division and second in the Pioneer Athletic League. They will be advancing to the regional competition.
Trahan and Aubrey Fernandes, the team captains, have been on the team for four years. Both love how supportive the team is of each other and how they help each other out.
“Everybody knows how to help each other in different ways than one, and no matter what happens at practice, no matter what happens at competition. Everybody is just so uplifting and super supportive,” said Fernandes.
Tranhan’s favorite part is the Friday Night Light games, and the “in between moments” like photos before football games and singing on the bus. Fernandes’ favorite part of cheering is the moment before getting on the mat at a competition.
Trahan and Fernandes felt that the biggest challenge they have faced this season is having new cheerleaders on the team and everyone learning to cheer at the same level. However, they agreed all the new cheerleaders are “rising to the occasion.”
Braga said she feels that this is the easiest team she’s coached in her 12 years, with no specific challenges. She feels they are all dedicated and willing to learn.
“Whatever we throw at them, we’re not going to give them skills that we don’t think they can do if we think they have the potential to do something,” Braga said. “They might have to work at it a little bit, [but] they’re willing to work on it, and then they end up getting it.”
Only some of the team competes, while the whole team cheers at football games. Regardless, those not competing are the cheerleaders for their teammates.
Their routine is a two and half minute mix of music by artists such as Drake, Bruno Mars and Nikki Minaj. The team makes changes and improvements each week, depending on judge feedback. The combination consists of both dance, gymnastic-style tumbling and stunts.
“We always love for people to know and be aware of the fact that we are hard workers, we are athletes just like any other team, and we compete just like any other team,” said Trahan.
