September 2018

OPINION
The Empowerment
of Cheerleading
by Daniella Escobar
A trimmed grassy field on a radiant
Florida day. The faint smell of
bug spray drifting from seemingly
everywhere, water beading up
and trickling down a dewy bottle,
and hair fastened firmly back in a
ponytail with a bow to accentuate
the look: a typical scene from
my childhood. I didn’t grow up
entranced by soccer or softball, as
you may have first thought; I grew
up fascinated by cheerleading.
It’s been 10 heartfelt years of
supporting other athletes, dancing
on the sidelines, and performing
in front of crowds. These are all encompassing of such a title,
of course; however, it’s the core values that cheerleading
has taught me that are what have driven me to revere it so
highly, and why, when moving to Parkland and hearing about
the Parkland Rangers Cheerleading team, I involved myself
immediately.
The girls hold their flyers high in halves during a football game
to cheer on the boys. Submitted photo
Cheerleading will forever have a place in my heart as one of
self-growth, unity with others, and the value of commitment. By
becoming one of the coaches of the Ranger’s Pee Wee team,
I was able to pass on these ideas to young girls just like me.
The Rangers have three teams: the Tiny Mites, Mitey Mites, and
the Pee Wees. In a typical week, they meet twice for practice
and support the football players at their game; the girls with
the most enthusiasm are awarded the spirit stick, spirit bear,
and the title of captain for the next game. The team learns and
perfects their competition routine throughout the season so that
they can impress the judges when November comes. From
homecoming to cheer backpacks with all the essentials, young
The Parkland Rangers wear pink in October to raise awareness
for breast cancer. Submitted photo
girls of various ages can enjoy all that
cheering for the Rangers has to offer. As
the season progresses, they get to see
not just themselves improve, but all of the
others around them. It’s a wonderful thing
to be a part of a team that grows together
and has fun doing so.
As someone who’s cheered since she
was six years old, being able to teach
the team things that I’ve picked up along
the way was extraordinary. Coaching
allowed me to lay the foundations
for what I hoped would one day
transcend into a devoted appreciation
for cheerleading, and pride filled my heart each time I saw
them expand on their potential. I encourage anyone who’s had
experience cheerleading to join the Rangers to coach as well.
Any knowledge you share, you’ll look fondly back at spending
time with girls as lovely as these. One day I was a stranger and,
seemingly, the next I arrived at practice to hugs and shouts
of “Coach Dani! Coach Dani!” before I had even reached the
grass. I saw myself in them at every halftime performance and in
every smile.
At our very first game, the girls were holding black and gold
signs, chanting and smiling with their colors not knowing much
of what to expect. A few months later, they were holding the
same signs proudly, shouting “Rangers!” at the end of their
cheer with admiration and satisfaction. Having come so far, that
black and gold now represented much more than just a weekly
activity. It was an anthem of achievement, a representation of
the nights spent correcting movements to perfection, the hours
of learning new skills, and the sincere dedication of coaches,
parents, and cheerleaders into one routine. One routine that
would, for two minutes and 30 seconds, exemplify not just a
season of triumph, but lifelong lessons learned to the scent of
bug spray, the perspiration of a water bottle, and the elasticity of
a ponytail all under the Florida sun. P
The Pee Wee team poses with their banners after one of their competitions.
Submitted photo
How to join
E-mail: Cheer@ParklandRangers.com Ph: 954-520-2515
Meet for practice at: 10555 Trails End, Parkland
Sign up online at the Parkland Rangers website for $250
starting in spring. The official season starts August 1. Visit
www.parklandrangers.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1518800
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SEPTEMBER 2018