Tahoma High’s cheerleading squad kicked off the competition season July 9 when it went to the three day National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) Qwest Camp at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore.

Tahoma, a team of 28 members which is led by a pair of coaches, wasn’t just trying to stand out at the camp but to also prove that cheerleaders are athletes just as much as someone who plays football, basketball or baseball.

“The kids work just as hard if not harder and longer then a lot of these other sport,” said assistant coach Jerry Spalti. “We start practice in May right after try outs and we average three days a week through March of the following school year. No matter how you slice it, that is ten months.”

Not only are all of these teams composed of athletes, they are also competitors, and camp was no exception.

On the first night the Tahoma team was given the Big Spirit Stick, the second highest spirit award, a superior ribbon, as well as placing first in the spirit routine.

On July 10, the team earned another spirit stick and also had some individual nominees who tried out for not only All American status, but Top Gun as well.

On the final day, Tahoma took home a spirit stick, second in their quest routine, the top spirit award, another superior ribbon, and some individuals from the day before made the All American team and one earned Top Gun.

“It takes a lot of hard work to make us look like a team when we are performing and I wish they would recognize all of our hard work and acknowledge us as a sport,” said senior Erin Deffenbaugh.

A spirit stick is given out every night during the competition to teams which displayed the most spirit during the camp.

“The two most important things about cheer is how hard we work and how hard we work together,” said junior Rachel Gilmore. “At camp we accomplished so much and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without each other.”

The girls weren’t the only ones coming home with ribbons, trophies, and wins. Their coaches were also recognized. Head coach Tara McVay was recertified as an NCA coach, assistant coach Jerry Spalti was certified again as a coach in addition to earning his Partner Stunting Certification.

Aside from practice, performances, games, and competitions these girls also find time to give back to their community including helping out at the Maple Valley Food Bank by stuffing backpacks for the back to school drive, distributing Thanksgiving meals and handing out candy canes with Santa on the fire truck.

“At camp we became more than just best friends, we became a family.” Gilmore said. “Now we are taking everything we learned at camp and helping the community and teaching the younger generation about cheer and family.”

For the team, cheerleading is not just a sport, it’s about creating bonds with one another and learning how to be leaders in the community.

“Cheerleading means getting people involved with the school and having people to go to, like a family,” said senior Randi McVay.