Beaver Cheer - NWOK Spotlight Presented by First National Bank of Hooker

By Derrick Smith

There is more to being a part of a cheer team than just being on the sidelines to help cheer your team to victory. They also compete in different cheer competitions, which requires a lot of work and preparation.

Beaver High School’s head cheer coach Nancy McVay, who is in her sixteenth season, says that this year’s team has been a lot of fun to work with.

“Our team’s best quality is our school spirit,” she said. “While we enjoy cheering, we also try to recognize all of the groups throughout our school. The squad I have has been a good group and a lot of fun.”

Senior cheerleader Raegan Russell says that the team’s chemistry is what she appreciates the most.

“I love the bond that our squad has with each other,” she said. “It has been unbreakable and made us a better team. Personally, my favorite part of cheer is stunting. There is nothing more exhilarating than being thrown in a basket toss.”

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted everyone in one way or another. McVay says that it has even impacted her team.

“We did not do competitive cheer this year,” she said. “We have in years past but were unable to this year.”

Helping to spread school spirit is great, but junior Emily Glunt says that seeing the impact on the younger kids is what she enjoys the most.

“I love planning and putting together pep rallies and cheering for the Dusters,” she said. “But the best thing ever is the hugs in the hallways from the little girls who have been to our cheer clinics.”

During the holiday season, McVay’s squad helped spread Christmas happiness to others.

“Every year we had a Christmas party where we would eat and exchange gifts,” she said. “But the thing that everyone loved the most was that we would adopt a Christmas angel and help bring some Christmas cheer to someone less fortunate.”

Acacia Hoover, a senior, says that she loves everything about being part of the Beaver HS cheer squad.

“I love getting the crowd involved to help cheer on the Dusters,” she said. “I also enjoy our practices. When we go on road trips, we always have a blast, especially when we eat Italian food before the games.”