New Cheer Coach Comes to East

The varsity cheerleading squad will be making a change to the program with a new head coach, Lindsey Haymond. Next year will be different from years past because cheerleading at East won’t just be at games and pep assemblies. They will be competing at competitions around the state.

Haymond cheered in high school at Blue Valley Northwest, and then coached cheerleading in Texas for five years. Now that she has the opportunity to coach the East varsity squad, things will be different from years past.

“I hope we can compete at the Kansas high school competition and be successful at it,” Haymond said. “I am really looking forward to improving on what the squad learned last year.”

According to Haymond, if she can coach in Texas, she can coach anywhere. Texas cheerleading is way more than just football and basketball games. Her old squad competed nationally and was at a higher level so Haymond is prepared for the upcoming year. She is planning on using her coaching skills to improve the East varsity squad.

The cheerleaders are used to practices from five to seven at night five days a week, but Haymond wants to start practicing right after school Monday through Thursday. The team will be competing in competitions and will be participating in community service projects.

“I think we are going to be doing more community activities and social activities,” Haymond said. “Doing activities will help them become more united, which will improve their skills.”

Junior Maddie Connelly has been cheering for the past three years and thinks next year will be more organized and fun because of the new coach. Since the squad will be entering competitions, they will get a feel for working hard towards something besides games.

“I’m excited to get to know the new coach,” Connelly said. “I can’t wait to see what the new changes will be like and how the team improves next year.”

For tryouts this year, Haymond is looking for well rounded cheerleaders. She wants someone who can tumble, someone who is spirited and loud, and someone who has good motions.

Connelly is nervous this year only because tumbling is a big part of tryouts and in the past it hasn’t been based on that. Now that there is a new coach, the requirements have changed.

“I think most of the squad from last year has a good chance of making it again,” Connelly said. “We all had good varsity scores last year and we have really progressed.”