This school 2025-2026 year has brought changes to the Salida High School’s cheerleading team. They’ve gotten a new coach and the team seems to be tighter than ever.

Although there are not a lot of girls on the team, “we have all gotten closer and we definitely bond more than we have before,” Emmerson Bradford, a junior on the team. Bradford has been on the team for two seasons, “soon to be three.”

The biggest highlight for the team this season has been working together on stunting. They’ve done two stunt clinics, with one taking place on Halloween.

Despite often struggling to find a consistent place in the school to practice, “we’re making due with what we have,” Bradford stated. The team has improved, and Bradford is able to do skills she wasn’t able to before this season. This season has especially focused on improving skills such as flips and tumbling. “A lot of other girls learned lots of new things and were all very proud and excited,” Bradford said.

The team also does fun things such as team meetings, which help the team to become bonded. These meetings have also made the girls trust one another, and the coach to trust the team. Bradford joined the team because her friends invited her to join, and, “it seemed like a lot of fun.”

At their most recent competition, the girls placed second at the Florence Dog Pound Show Down. They worked on their skills and abilities this past season to gain this success. Their next competition is the state championship.

A goal Bradford has for the team is to “be nicer to each other and also give each other the benefit of the doubt.” She hopes they can “get more support from the students than we have before” while cheering during games and sporting events.