By Edgardo Hernandez and Claudia Villeda
The Trevecca Cheer team begins their first full season this semester.
“We are happy to announce we are re-establishing a long-standing tradition of our Trojan cheer team,” said Mark Elliott in a news release. “Lexi Laucirica has the vision to build a spirited program that will lead the Trojan Nation and Purple Pride.”
Trevecca disbanded the cheer team after the 2015-2016 academic year, but as of 2021, they have regrouped for their first season back.
“TNU athletics had been discussing the idea of bringing back cheer for the last year or two. Long story short, I met Mark (Elliot) and his wife on a hike in North Carolina a year ago. There we discussed the possibility of re-establishing the program. Because the Lord really aligned everything to work out perfectly for us to start the program this year, we decided to move forward with it,” said Laucirica
The cheer team this season includes six freshmen, three sophomores, four juniors and one senior, making a total of 14 members. Due to Covid-19 and members being out of state, tryouts were held online.
In-person tryouts are better, but with online tryouts, one is capable of redoing their performance, said Mirka Alarcon, a junior nursing major.
The team will mainly cheer for the men’s and women’s basketball teams when the season begins in November.
Alarcon is a returning member and choreographer of Trevecca Cheer. She was in the previous team before its shutdown.
Grace Pullium, a junior elementary education major, is also a returning member of Trevecca Cheer and is one of the five cheerleaders as well as the spiritual cheer lead. She holds a bible study in the cafeteria every Friday morning. Pullium also leads the prayer every practice.
The cheer team members hold a strong bond with each other. Balancing academics, work and practice can become tedious, but members are there to support each other. Members communicate with one another, as a means of support, said Pullium.
“We are excited to finally be able to cheer for a crowd this year. We can’t wait to support our athletic teams and the student body,” said Laucirica.
