Tigerettes Take the Track: Drill team sharing track with cheerleaders at football games sparks controversy

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On Thursday, Sept. 12, Blue Valley students saw a change on the track during the football game against Bishop Miege.
Standing in front of the band section, the Tigerettes drill team supported the football team from the track.
As opposed to being with the band section in the bleachers, the Tigerettes chose to move in front of the crowd.
According to head cheerleading coach Michelle Wirt, the girls were brought down to help the cheerleaders build and promote school spirit.
Wirt loves the idea of having the drill team represented on the track.
“I think that it is a nice addition to our school’s spirit,” Wirt said. “I have wanted the drill team to be more involved for years.”
In contrast, according to the parents, there is much controversy regarding the cheerleaders sharing the track with the drill team.
“It was confusing to watch both the dance team and the cheerleaders, because one group would do a dance, and cheerleaders would interrupt the other group by performing something else,” an anonymous parent said. “Personally, I think, if the two are sharing the track, they should do the same thing, but then again that defeats the purpose of having different squads. I believe it should be organized better.”
As well as the parents, some members of the two teams disagree on being on the track together.
“It [both teams on the track] makes the games more spirited and more like college football games which is always good to experience,” sophomore JV cheerleader Lauren Sawyer said.
According to Sawyer, most of the cheerleaders support the drill team being on the track.
Some of the drill team members do not enjoy being on the track for multiple reasons according to  drill team dancer freshman Abby Helms.
“I feel like it’s going to expand the program [Tigerettes] but I don’t like being on the track because I signed up for dance, not cheer,” Helms said.
Although the drill team dances, Wirt said she would like the Tigerettes to learn the words to the cheers and yell with them.
“I want them to be down there supporting the cheerleaders and to help us out with getting the crowd pumped up at games,” Wirt said.