AFS sporting events have always had spirit. However, this year, even more spirit was brought to the table thanks to the AFS Roo-leaders. The Roo-leaders finally made their debut this year as AFS’s first cheerleading team. To get an inside view of their experience, I interviewed the team’s manager, Madison Younger-McLaurin ‘27, and asked her a few questions about how the season is going and what plans the team has for the rest of the year and moving forward.
What is your role on the cheerleading team, and how can you fulfill that role while also making sure the team does its best? My role is the team manager. I pretty much run all of the behind-the-scenes work in terms of organizing our bake sales, communicating with the athletic director, Jeff Bond, and determining when and where we will meet. I also run our team canvas page, where girls can watch videos of the cheers for them to learn at home, which has been so helpful to many of the girls, and helps them practice to move more smoothly and quickly.
What is it like making the first AFS cheerleading team, and has it made you feel any pressure?
It can be scrutinizing at times, but it feels good to be a part of something new. Also, bringing more spirit to AFS feels good because the student section has felt a little dead in the past few years. Yes, the team has felt pressure because it feels like everyone is watching, but we’re happy to be doing something that we love while also bringing spirit to games.
What kind of energy do you hope to bring to school events?
The goal of the RooLeaders is to engage the student section. A big part of our goal is to encourage our athletes while they are on the court or on the bench. We want to energize everyone in the Berman Athletic Center and give positive energy to every Roo.
What was the most challenging part of starting the Roo-Leaders?
The most challenging part was raising money in order to get our uniforms. It took a financial and mental toll on me and others to meet our goal, but in the end, it was worth it. Each girl was happy with their uniform, and people loved them.
How are you building trust and teamwork within the team, and how can that be seen when you are cheerleading?
Most of the cheerleading team were already friends. That helps a lot with the team dynamic. Even our coach was previously our dance teacher. This made for an easy learning environment. Each new team member feels comfortable around the others because of the welcoming atmosphere. This can be seen by our confidence when cheering for AFS teams. As Younger said, “even if we are nervous or anxious, we can lift each other because we’re all one team.”
What message do you want to give future Roo-leaders hoping to join?
The message I would give to future RooLeaders is not to let fear or nerves dictate whether or not they join the team. Every RooLeader experiences nervousness or a feeling of being shy in front of a crowd, but at the end of the day, as a team, our energy radiates positivity from person to person. All I can really say is to simply put themselves out there, with every ounce of confidence within them.
Is there anything else you would like to say that I didn’t ask about?
Keep your eyes on the RooLeaders Instagram account during the next fall season, when we pop out with many new surprises.
The future of AFS school spirit lies in the hands of the Roo-leaders, and they are handling that very well. The Roo-leaders have had a very successful first season and have many great things to bring to the AFS student section. In the upcoming seasons of AFS Athletics, the Roo-leaders hope to see you supporting them and our AFS sports teams.