(WACH)- The fall semester for the Benedict College cheerleading squad has changed drastically with the postponement of fall sports.
The squad, which cheers at every fall sporting event, is normally made up of 40 cheerleaders. However, due to COVID-19, they only have 18 on campus right now.
“We’re at 10 feet apart right now,” Coach Teri Mills said. “We’re in staggered lines. When they come to practice, they go directly to their spot so that we’re keeping our distance.”
The Tigers know how much sports mean to the culture at Benedict College.
They feel the energy and camaraderie the cheerleaders bring is a huge part of that.
“Together, we’re a family,” cheerleader Trinity Mitchell said. “Those are my sisters no matter what. No matter where you come from, at the end of the day we’re still family.”
“We make sure that everybody is having a good time,” cheerleader Mecca Austin said. “If they need help, they can come to us any time.”
While it’s easy to get down during this difficult time, these cheerleaders say their job is to keep everyone’s spirit up.
They said they have to apply that thinking to their every day lives as well.
“Positivity is the key,” cheerleader Jasmine Williams said. “You gotta have faith that everything is gonna get better. Continue to pray and reach out to God, with his will, that everything will get better regardless.”
