"The show must go on" is an old adage for the theater stage.
But high school cheerleading?
When a lot of teams might have called it quits, the Bayfield High School squad decided to continue on, competing last weekend at the 3A Colorado Spirit Championships in Denver with two members.
That's right. Two.
Having started the fall season with 11 athletes, injuries and eligibility have taken their toll on the team, along with a fair number of members who just quit.
Even with only two members, the team took 10th out of 20 teams in the 3A all-girl cheer categroy, defeating regional neighbors Pagosa Springs, Montezuma-Cortez, and even Manitou Springs, long a cheerleading powerhouse.
"We went out there and wondered if the crowd would like us, or would they be wondering what we're doing here," said Kaitlyn Gosney, a sophomore on the team.
Instead, they performed to roars of approval, even though they had significantly modified their routine to adjust to having only two members.
Gosney and Hannah Whitmer performed a shoulder sit and inverted cartwheel. The shoulder sit was a bit of a problem, because typically, two members help boost a team member up to sit on her teammate's shoulders.
Whitmer figured out a way to scramble up Gosney without any assistance.
"I am really proud of how wonderfully they did," said Head Coach Aimee Whitmer. "I am really proud of how they represented Bayfield. We had two girls out there still cheering and competing."
Yes, the team could have called it quits, Coach Whitmer conceded, but she's proud they kept at it.
"It's awesome they are sticking with it," she said. At state, they said numerous competitors congratulated the girls on performing so well, even getting flowers from the Pagosa Springs cheerleaders.
"State spirit is super supportive," Coach Whitmer said, with lots of schools supporting those from their region. "It's a big love fest."
The Colorado High School Activities Association wrote an article about the team being the smallest squad ever to perform at state. It can be read at http://chsaanow.com/2016-12-09/bayfield-cheer-brings-rare-two-person-team-state-spirit-competition/
After state, the team has rebounded and doubled in size, with Eli Monyek serving as the team's male, and Caitlyn Phillips has recovered from an injury that kept her from competing at state. BHS started having boys on the cheer squad about two years ago.
"I want to thank our coaches," said Gosney, referring to Whitmer and assistant coaches Syerra Peterson and Heather Kugle. The new, smaller squad is focusing on increasing school spirit, and she thinks the team is succeeding in that regard.
"We want to get and show more support," Coach Whitmer said. She also has the goal of growing the team, hoping to make it a true co-ed squad, and making it to state finals next year.
"F-I-G-HT, fight Wolverines fight," right?
Right.
