As the excitement of the summer fades away and the reality of school coming back sets in, sports teams are gearing up for the upcoming seasons. Manhattan High’s cheer team has spent their summer making themselves both physically and mentally prepared for the year ahead.

The cheerleading camp is directed by coaches from California’s World Class Cheer company. Each year, the camp’s trainers fly out and teach MHS cheerleaders every dance routine and high flying stunt seen throughout the year. Although the three-day camp is primarily about learning, the long days are also one of the first bonding experiences team members get to share.

“The best part of camp has been that there is more bonding here,” first-year cheerleader and junior Mariah Garmen said. “It’s different than practice; I’ve made so many more friends at camp than I would at practice.”

The new cheerleaders and incoming freshman aren’t the only changes that have been made to this year’s squad. At the end of last year’s season, head coach Jennifer Alonso stepped down from her position, which was then filled by Maddie Tenbrink, previous assistant coach under Alonso. The assistant coach position was filled by Kansas State University cheer alumna Michelle Page.

“It’s been pretty good to put my own spin on things as a coach,” Tenbrink said. “I only wanted to change some things that would organize us a little bit better. The main part has been just wrapping my mind around the administrative part that I never really saw as an assistant coach.”

Tenbrink says that while leading MHS’s cheer squad has been a dream of hers, it is a lot more work than being assistant.

“It was always in my head that I always wanted to be the head coach at the high school,” Tenbrink said. “So when it came about it was kind of an amazing feeling but in the back of my mind I knew there was a lot more to be in charge of.”

Despite all the new changes that come with this year’s squad, team members expressed that they want the world to know one thing: this team is back and better than ever, and they are not to be underestimated. Page agrees.

“This is an incredibly accomplished squad,” Page said. “It’s not just during tryouts. They have to be accomplished in their academics, in their community. they have to be on good standing even to get the opportunity to try out. It’s not just a uniform, it’s not just a pretty face. They are athletes. They work super hard to have the same respect that the football players, basketball players, soccer teams, baseball teams. It’s huge. They are putting in so many hours and they have to look good doing it. We just want that respect.”