Behind the Rally Squad
When students see the Rally Squad at a rally or supporting Moreau Catholic athletic teams, they mostly see the cheering, energy and school spirit. But there is a lot that happens behind the scenes before the event even starts.
Seniors Emma Malik and Kenadie Glenn are members of Moreau Catholic’s Rally Squad. Throughout the school year, they prepare for rallies, Spirit Week, football, other athletic events. Their responsibilities include practicing cheers, planning routines and working together as a team.
Being on the Rally Squad is a physical activity that requires extreme hard work and preparation. Members practice full-out dancing, stunts and formations that require strength, flexibility, coordination and stamina.
“One thing students don’t see is the time we put into formations, planning how everything will look on the field or in the gym, and building our stamina through full-out dancing,” Kenadie said.
Practice is a major part of getting ready for rallies. The team works on timing, coordination and making sure everyone knows their role before performing. This preparation helps the Rally Squad perform safely and confidently in front of the school.
“We spend weeks learning different parts of the choreography and different stunts before putting the routine together. Once it’s all together, we spend a lot of time cleaning up the small details before performing in front of the school,” Emma said.
Before a rally, members also warm up and practice their stunts. They take time to prepare themselves mentally as a team.
“We have run-through practices before a rally, but mostly we run stunts to warm our bodies up. We always hold a team prayer right before just to calm some of our nerves down. But once we start performing, it’s a rush of adrenaline going through our bodies and almost a blackout moment when you perform,” Emma said.
Another major responsibility is showing up for teammates and the school. Rally Squad members support many different events, requiring them to put themselves out there and commit their time to the team.
“The biggest responsibility of being on the Rally Squad is showing up for different sporting events. We are needed at rallies, Spirit Week, and other sports. It takes a lot of time and commitment, and you have to be willing to put yourself out there and be there for your team. I take responsibility by making sure I don’t let down my stunt team and by doing my part,” Kenadie said.
Kenadie has also learned how important teamwork is to the Rally Squad. She said everyone brings energy to practices and works toward the same goal.
“I’ve learned that this is the most connected team I’ve been a part of, and it means a lot when everyone comes to practice with a good attitude and feeds off each other’s energy. We’re like one big family because we work together, take criticism well and are all working toward the same goal,” Kenadie said.
By supporting teammates and bringing school spirit to rallies and athletic events, they help bring the Moreau community together.
The next time students see the Rally Squad, they might think about what happens before the cheering begins. Behind the energy is a group of student-athletes practicing, supporting one another and helping bring Moreau events to life.