No Longer on the Sidelines : Song Leaders Move Beyond Their Role as Rooters and Enter Competitions

The Santa Margarita High School song-leading squad--a combination of dancers, athletes, comedians, writers, thinkers and dreamers--is proving to be a strong force in competition circles.

But more important for the 10-member squad, the song-leading experience is teaching members to act in a unified manner to accomplish a lot over a short period of time.

“There is a real sense of wanting to achieve major goals at Santa Margarita,” said senior Monika Maser, squad captain. “It is found in all of the programs here, but I think the song leaders really take it to heart.”

This year’s squad was selected last spring, but because of uncertainty over who would serve as their coach, the girls were virtually on their own during the summer. Running their own practices and preparing themselves for song-leading camp helped them to establish strong bonds.

“When we were at camp, we had some major heart-to-heart talks because we felt unsure about a lot of things,” Maser said. “This is where we established ‘clearing,’ a way of discussing exactly how we feel and sharing our thoughts about things--from individual critiques for a routine to personal conflicts. This brought us together so much.”

The focus of summer camp was on cheering for the school’s athletic teams, and it wasn’t until a coach was hired in the fall that the girls even considered competing against more experienced squads.

“When I first came to Santa Margarita, it was really tough because it was very late to begin working with a squad that was already picked,” said coach Nida Nafarrete, who was a cheerleader at Los Alamitos High School and UC Irvine. “Fortunately, the girls were terrific and really wanted to work hard to compete.”

Though last year’s five-member squad participated in a few competitions and performed at a Los Angeles Clippers basketball game, this year’s is compiling a long list of honors: first-place finish at the Cheerleaders of America Southern and Central California Regional Competition, first place at the United Spirit Assn. Southern California Regionals and first runner-up in the Song Division at the National Cheerleaders Assn. National Dance Team Championships.

The squad’s greatest challenge lies just ahead as it competes in the Cheerleaders of America National Songleading Championships, which begin today in Jacksonville, Fla.

Though they have already tasted success, the song leaders have a hard act to follow on the national level, as Santa Margarita’s cheerleaders, who began competing just two years ago, finished seventh at this year’s National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Fla.

“We are willing to work hard because we want to do our best,” said Stephanie Sawyer, a senior song leader. “The squad unity also makes it easy for us to get along so well together and get a lot accomplished.”

And the girls accomplish a lot in the classroom, too: The squad’s combined grade-point average is 3.65, with many of the girls enrolled in honors classes and advanced placement courses.

“There are great pressures with academics and song leading,” said song leader Clara Song, who ranks No. 1 in the senior class with a 4.57 GPA. “It is not uncommon to feel pulled by teachers and coaches alike, but the unity of the squad and overall support of the faculty makes it much easier to balance a busy schedule.”

The girls practice six days a week, 50 weeks a year, in addition to attending sporting events and competitions.

“Basically, we are really self-motivated,” senior Jennifer Bost said. “If someone is having an off day, everybody gets behind them and is very supportive.”

Added senior Amy Fabbricatore: “It’s like a family. We care about each other and want to support each other.”

This support extends beyond song leading.

“We are friends in school and out of school, not just at practices or games,” Maser said. “We enjoy doing things together.”

All Santa Margarita song leaders and cheerleaders pray before each game and competition and regularly attend Mass.

“When we pray, we are able to see how important it is to just do your best,” junior song leader Doyle Sullivan said. “Our faith in God really adds to our faith in each other.”