Palmer Jones joins cheer
The spirit cheer team added their first male team member this year since over the last half decade, an addition that has positively changed the team dynamic.
Palmer Jones, senior, is a new member of the spirit cheer team this year and has decided to take a step out of his own comfort zone.
“I wanted to try something crazy and I’ve been having a blast since the beginning,” Jones said. “Cheer is like any other sport, it is what you make it.”
Maddy Weise, senior and teammate, believes that the team was initially tentative about Jones’ addition to the team, but has seen him grow and find his place on the squad.
“We were nervous that he would try out and make it but not actually be invested in the team so there was a little hesitation in welcoming him right away. But we quickly realized that he really wanted to be there and to learn so he earned my respect quickly and grew on us,” Weise said.
Overcoming this first bump in the road, the cheer team has made an effort to make sure that Jones is comfortable with the team. “We took to him and hopefully him to us. We all look out for each other and I think we came together to make sure he felt welcome and valuable to our whole team,” Weise said.
Additionally, Weise has felt that Jones gives the team a new energy even when they are worn out from the long hours of practice.
“I think it has been really beneficial to the team to have Palmer. He is really dedicated to the team and kind of pushes us to be more competitive but at the same time teaches us to have fun.” Weise said. “Our practices are long and we work nonstop so his humor is much appreciated.”
Not only do his teammates believe that he has had a positive impact on the squad, but Coach Megan McCarthy believes so too.
“I definitely believe that Palmer contributes to the dynamic of the squad,” McCarthy said. “He has always been a ‘follow whatever coach wants’ kind of person and always goes the extra mile.”
Furthermore, McCarthy believes that Jones will be a good role model to both young boys and other new girls on the team.
“He is definitely a top person when it comes to what he puts into practice,” McCarthy said. “He is a great example for boys who aren’t already a part of the cheer world to understand that they can be a cheerleader and that it’s not just a sport for ponytails and bows. A lot of people think that just standing on the sidelines is the only thing that you can do but they do a lot of stunting and tumbling.”
Jones shares this perspective. “I think the cheer program will positively affect any young testosterone-fueled stallion like myself,” Jones said.
