The Stakes are High, But Their Spirits Are Higher: DRHS Cheerleaders Confident They Can Raise $65,000 This Year

“We’re excited to show people what we’re capable of…” – Varsity Cheer captain, Mia Hernandez

Ask any parent of a school cheerleader and they’ll tell you: cheer isn’t like other sports. It’s a year-round hustle filled with football games in the fall, baseball games in the spring, camps and competitions, and the many community events in between. If this sounds exhausting to you, hold on to your pom-poms, because it’s also expensive. 

Cheer parents can spend thousands over the course of a school year, meaning that without organized fundraising, many talented cheerleaders would be left out simply because of the cost. But Selina Andrade-Jaramillo, Del Rio High School’s Cheer Booster president and cheer parent, says she wants to foster a culture of unity within Del Rio Cheer’s community by helping families avoid out-of-pocket costs. This means more cheer hopefuls are afforded the opportunity to grow and learn from DRHS’ award-winning program.

“Our vision for this season is definitely unity,” says Selina. In a conversation with DRNN, Selina explains that the Cheer Booster organization’s mission is to help cover expenses — like travel, food, and competition fees — that would otherwise fall on the shoulders of the families. Overwhelming participation expenses are often the reason cheerleaders quit the team. 

“I’ve seen children have to leave the program. This is why boosters are so important…We are able to help those who couldn’t otherwise be cheerleaders,” she says, becoming emotional for a moment. 

Selina believes in the positively life-changing impacts DRHS’ Cheer program has on those who experience it. Coached by National Cheer Association veteran Kirstin Snyder, the program certainly shows signs of refining its student-athletes into noteworthy and ambitious citizens. 

Mia Hernandez (pictured above), varsity cheer captain, has announced that after graduating she will study pre-law to pursue a career as an attorney, and plans to continue cheering in college. She says, “Cheer has taught me so much — discipline, accountability, resilience, leadership, and the importance of teamwork — and I wouldn’t trade these lessons for anything.”

Mia Guardiola, cheer manager and member of the National Technical Honor Society, will pursue her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in college after graduating. “These programs have helped shape my goals and dedication to my future,” says Guardiola.

Jesus Garcia, varsity co-captain, was personally invited by the National Cheer Association to apply to join their staff and teach cheer professionally upon graduation. For now, he’s announced he will pursue higher education after graduating high school.

On top of helping fulfill their personal development, the Booster’s fundraising also helps DRHS cheer members connect with a larger, state- (sometimes nation-) wide cheer community by attending camps and competitions — and shine brightly while doing so. 

According to Selina, the team attended a 4-day official NCA cheer camp in June and brought home multiple awards. Most noteworthy, the Herkie Team Award is awarded to the top team, out of up to 20 teams, that embodies NCA core values of leadership and teamwork throughout the camp. The Herkie Team Award is considered the highest honor a squad can receive at camp. DRHS cheerleaders brought home this award, along with a list of other team and individual honors. 

The most notable individual at camp also achieved a first in DRHS history. Mia Hernandez received the Top All-American Award; the highest individual honor awarded to only one cheerleader out of hundreds. Mia also received the Individual Leadership Award, which went to two out of hundreds. Along with a number of awards received by other remarkable Del Rio cheerleaders, DRHS Cheer, captained by Mia, is out to prove they’ve got what it takes to be taken seriously.

But this story is not all sunshine and cheer. This is where the stakes get high, because last school year DRHS Cheer was not able to attend any competitions. Funds came up short and the team’s potential for competitive athletic recognition went completely untapped.

But Selina and the Booster’s team of parents have a plan to grant their young athletes that chance to be seen this year. It’s a bold plan to raise $65,000: enough to get their 39 cheerleaders to two competitions and one camp. 

Varsity captain Mia Hernandez is already showing big confidence about outshining other teams. When asked what she looks forward to this year, she said self-assuredly, “We’re excited to show everyone what we’re capable of doing at competition.”

So, how can one support DRHS Cheer? Selina and the Booster have a variety of fundraisers that Rams and Queens fans can contribute to and engage with throughout the year. For starters, Selina says school apparel and accessories are sold at home football games.

“Our team will be selling [school]-spirit items such as stadium-approved bags…fans, keychains, and apparel. In addition, we will be seeking sponsorships, selling food tickets, and hosting a “Fill the Megaphone” campaign at local stores,” she explains.

And for direct monetary donations: “Later this month, once approved by the school, we will also share a donation link with our community to provide another opportunity for support.”

Cheerleaders mean a lot of things to a lot of people. To each other, they are meaningful and lifelong relationships. To a school sports team, they are the hype and support. And to a community, they are the very spirit and pride.

To keep up with upcoming ways to support, follow DRHS Cheer Booster on Facebook.