River View introduces young cheerleaders to biddy program
CONESVILLE – Paige Nicely remembers having a good time at biddy cheer camp when she was younger.
“It was the older girls that made it fun,” said the River View Junior High eighth grade cheerleader.
On June 23, Nicely got to be one of the people to help make camp fun for 41 kindergarten through sixth grade girls who signed up to attend biddy cheer camp held at Conesville Elementary School.
“I brought some of the junior high girls here today so the kids can see what they can aspire to be,” said May Johnson, who heads up the biddy cheer program for River View.
Nicely, Bree Washington and Emma King, who also are eighth grade cheerleaders, helped Johnson teach the campers two cheers. They then took a break from cheering to enjoy a snack and craft time outside before performing for their parents.
Campers also could sign up for the biddy cheer season.
“They cheer at games just like the older girls, but their cheers are a little bit more basic,” Johnson said.
She just took over the program and was excited to see many new faces at the camp.
“I want to get back to the basics and teach them what they need to know for the future,” Johnson said.
King hopes the young campers had fun and continue on with cheerleading.
“I hope they learn to just go for it,” King said. “I like the way it feels when you are out there cheering and getting to be the center of attention.”
Washington encouraged the young cheerleaders not to get discouraged if they don’t learn a skill right away.
“If you see other girls doing things like back handsprings just know that one day you can be like that too,” she said. “I say practice doesn’t make perfect it makes permanent.”
The biddy cheerleaders cheer for the third through sixth grade football players and wrap their season up with a banquet.
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