Cheers to Cheerleading: A Conversation with the Captains
(Photo courtesy Gettysburg College Athletics)
This article originally appeared on pages 12 and 13 of the No. 2 October 2024 edition of The Gettysburgian’s magazine.
By Zach Brooks, Magazine Editor
Bullet cheerleaders chant, dance, and stunt trackside during football games. Leading the squad are co-captains Rachele Dale ’25 and Mia McHugh ’25 who say it was cheerleading that ultimately helped both of them to pick Gettysburg College.
“I was in high school, and I fell in love with cheer,” said Dale. When choosing a school that balanced strong academics with an exciting cheer program, Dale and McHugh agreed the Bullets squad had both. Additionally, cheer offers its students athletes a welcoming community that uplifts them as leaders. For example, McHugh held multiple leadership roles ranging from recruitment chair to social media chair throughout her time on cheer before becoming a captain this season.
Even in challenging times, whether that be balancing course loads or hitting a stunt, the team finds clever ways to bond through hand stand competitions, study nights and more.
“We try really hard to end practices with something positive… it brings up morale but also it’s still movement,” said Dale. As student leaders on the team, Dale and McHugh, take active roles in finding new ways to bond.
Additionally the team’s tight knit friendship offers a support system. “Even when we get frustrated at practice if something’s not working, a stunt isn’t hitting, everybody has that support system we’ve tried to create,” said McHugh. The team is united on and off the field representing bullets cheerleading in the classroom and community. “I really do think that we are one big family.”
Dale emphasized the importance of representing the College as part of the team in and out of uniform, “You want to represent our team well, like it’s an expectation that if you’re on the team, you’re walking the straight and narrow,” said Dale.
Traditions of the team include an annual trip to Mr. G’s, gingerbread house making, and bringing desserts and baked goods to the tailgating after each game. McHugh shared her favorite memories are some of these off the field moments: going out with teammates, welcoming parents and friends for family weekend and more.
Dale enjoys cheering her team mates and celebrating their accomplishments. “The first time someone hits something, it’s a whole team celebration, we’re all very proud of them,” said Dale.
A constant for the team is making things fun. Even with something like 24-hour rule, the period of 24 hours before a game when teammates aren’t allowed to go out, teammates send fun selfies in the team GroupMe with kitchen utensils. “I think I used my kitchen sponge, or my favorite spoon,” said McHugh.
The cheer team is on the side lines keeping spirits high whether the football team is winning or losing. “They’re great at what they do. This year, it’s our year,” said McHugh. She posed the question, “Could you imagine no cheer team? That would be really quiet.” Dale echoed McHugh saying she cares about keeping school spirit high and the football players.
When discussing common misconceptions about cheerleading McHugh stressed cheerleaders are student athletes despite not being officially designated as a sport by the NCAA and the College. Title IX regulations require schools to offer equal participation opportunities for all students, regardless of gender. McHugh offered that cheerleading could be an important part of an inclusive athletic program. While the squad in recent times has consisted of all women, there is the opportunity for men to participate as well.
As part of ongoing efforts to improve the quality and safety of the cheer program, the team recently acquired new uniforms and practice matts. Before this, McHugh described having to use safety pins to wear the uniform, posing a risk of self injury and injury to others. McHugh and Dale agree that the matts and uniforms are steps in the right direction. McHugh described other challenges the team faced such as volume and recruitment.
“Seniors have poured their hearts and soul into all of this, and we want to give them the best season that they possibly can have,” said McHugh. Dale stressed the team was ready to face the challenges it encountered and that with dedication and stretch they would get through them and ultimately benefit.
McHugh shared that she is proud of the team, and not just in their athletic abilities. She believes the bullet cheer program contributes to the well-rounded characters of its teammates, especially as they enter into the world. Looking to the future McHugh and Dale both expressed excitement as to what will happen to the team after they graduate, “Mia and I have both seen the people we know are going to continue to lead this team, and we’re both very proud of who they are and who they will become,” said Dale. “It’s really heartwarming to see them grow, and flyer or not we lift them up.”
