Stratford High School - Mnemosyne Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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No one can say the eight cheer- leaders weren't experienced after planning and performing at the fif- teen straight once-a-week pep ral- lies and football games. However, they did lack one quality - they didn't know a cheer for a losing football team. Voted on by the students, the Exhibiting his own special stunt, Senior Charles Lloyd explained, Cheerleading wasn't my life's ambition, but last year's cheerleader Kelly Bittner pointed out to me that it could be fun. ' :sum N 4 . cheerleades, Seniors Martin Bailey, Cyrene Bouchard, Connie Fritz, Drew Kronenberger, Charles Lloyd, Connie Pratt, Tracey Wheatley, and Scott Witt began their cheerleading careers at a cheerleader preparation camp and clinic held at SMU Aug. 7 through Aug. 12. Here they learned new cheers, chants, and pyramids and competed against other squads according to co-head cheerleader Connie Fritz. She added that they were awarded four superior ribbons, and one excellent ribbon, and more impor- tantly, they received a spirit stick, a pretty big deal at camp, it's one of the best awards given. lt was really great, added Connie's part- ner and co-head cheerleader, Charles Lloyd, the guys were so outnumbered. There were like 40 girls to one guy. The next major project they had was planning the first pep rally. We were lucky because we didn't have a game the first week that school star-ted. We used this time to really plan the pep rally, explained Tracey. With fifteen pep rallies, the main problem the cheerleaders encoun- tered, stated Mrs. Virginia Hill, the cheerleader sponsor, was getting the students and the school more spirited. lt seemed like everyone expected to win, and they got apathetic. During the playoffs, we had people from other schools call- ing and begging to come to our pep rallies. Only one unfavorable situation occurred during the entire season, and it was because of natural causes. There was a downpour at the Westchester game, Nov. 17. lt was awful, exclaimed Tracey, It was freezing cold and raining. The wind was blowing so hard and we were soaked to the skin, There was even water in our shoes. She added, We had to put the micro- phone in the ice chest to keep it dry. With the five playoffs held in the Astrodome, the cheerleaders were, after a while, as familiar with it as they were with Tully. The first time Before practice for would-be cheerlead- ers, Senior Tracey Wheatley tries on Senior Scott Witt's sun glasses for snow skiing. Tracey commented, l was pre- tending I was a snow skier, too. On the side of the frames it even said, 'I can ski

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d pulled out right in front of u. Another way to avoid the time unch was solved by Robert Jlt who recommended, lust an to meet your friends at a ecific place and really get out ere fast. There won't be any ng lines to sit in and waste time th During school, students con- egated in their favorite spots. Jnquering the third floor mid- e stairs for example was a feat itself, as one dodged conversa- mns and couples. junior Wade Reese said, l've been looking over these stairs ever since my freshman year and it's right near my locker. Of course, all grades gathered near their respective lockers as they waited for friends or just wanted to socialize. Finding a parking space was another problem in the course of a regular school day. lt was apparent when 7:50 a.m. rolled around. Screeching cars, brave walkers and bike riders filled the vast parking lots. Late arrivals were stuck with parking in the if QQ rear of one of the parking lots. lf you're running late, the time which you're being late by is nearly doubled by the fact that you have to walk so far just to get to the school. This can be a prob- lem especially when it rains. Because so many people drive to school, it gives you an incentive to get to school earlier just to avoid the crowds, said Linda Crimsby,junior. Living in Houston, crowds were everywhere, and at Strat- ford, everyone was a part of the crowd. Listening intently to separate conversa- tions, Sophomore Simms Duncan enjoys his ice cream sandwich as Senior Bob Rielly drinkshis iced tea. Both with- stood the long lunchlines before their meal. These lines were usually shorter during B-lunch, though, because many seniors left campus to support fast food businesses or eat at home. Leading the crowd out the door next to the gym, junior Kathy Sparks and Senior Elaine Divita leave for home after a day at school. Tired smiles and a hurried pace were characteristic of the mad rush home. Preceding the final game, the State Championship against the Plano Wild- cats in the Astrodome, a crowd of coaches, teachers, and alumni gathered to welcome the team. The crowd then formed a path from the locker room to the run-through sign on the field to show their support for the team. crowds 15

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Clapping to the chant, cheerleaders cott Witt, Connie Pratt, Martin Bailey, nd Drew Kronenberger get the crowd enthused at the Alief-Hastings pep rally. It really made us feel good to have the crowd join in with us, stated Connie. l we walked in, it was so quiet and ,big. But the next time, it seemed just natural for us to be there, said Con- nie Fritz. , When football season ended, the cheerleaders were already involved lin cheering for the basketball games. The games were usually lheld in the Coliseum two nights a Week, stated Connie Pratt. The crowd was usually pretty spirited, like a lot of the football players lwould stand on the front row and Well, she added. l Scott pointed out that it was hard ,to cheer for these games because l they were so fast paced. While we 'were cheering for the offense, the ball could have easily changed hands. With all this complicated activity, it seemed like there wouldn't be much time to have any fun, but Connie Fritz stated, We worked but we had fun every minute. Summing up the year, Tracey con- cluded, The whole time I had fun. Football season was kind of long, but l'm really glad it ended the way it did. I just wish we could do it all overagainf' Balancing on Seniors Tracey Wheatley and Connie Fritz's shoulders, Senior Cyrene Bouchard describes it as being real shaky. Selected to be on top because she was least scared, Cyrene explained, lf I fell, I would usually land on my feet. 5 .: if R . ST cheerleaders I7