New coach Melanie Torrance aims to rebuild RCHS cheerleading program
By Amy Hitt
The RCHS cheerleading squad has a new coach this year, Melanie Torrance. Melanie is a graduate of RCPS and a recent graduate of the University of Mary Washington. She has a B.A. in Sociology and was on the cheerleading squad for all of her four years.
Melanie started cheering in the seventh grade at Rappahannock County Elementary School and was named All-District cheerleader her sophomore and junior years at RCHS. In her junior year at Mary Washington she was a team captain. Melanie is living in Rappahannock, and will be continuing her education as she would like to become a lawyer.
While she is doing that, she has taken on the tough job of rebuilding the RCHS cheerleading squad. In 2003, 2004 and 2005 the RCHS teams went to States and in 2005 they came in 2nd place. Melanie was on the first team that went to the State level of competition and she knows what it is going to take to get her squad to that level.
She has 19 football girls, which means they will be on the sidelines at all the home and away games. She also has a full Competition Squad (20 team members), that includes three boys. The squads will practice every day of the week, when they are not cheering at the games, including every Saturday until October. Seven members of her team will be going to a Cheer Camp at UVA the first weekend in August and then after that, the work begins.
Coach Torrance wants her squad to bring school pride and spirit back to RCPS. She wants to hold pep-rallies and school dances and she wants the cheerleaders to be involved in all aspects of the homecoming activities.
During the football games the cheerleaders will be throwing T-shirts into the stands and selling 50/50 raffle tickets. Coach Torrance said, “Cheerleading is not just a fun pastime anymore, it is a true sport and it takes hard work and athleticism. I want my team to be dedicated and to take this sport seriously.” Colleges offer a lot of scholarships for cheerleading and it is an important part of college sports.
Coach Torrance would love to have a middle school squad also. “I started in 7th grade at RCES because we had a parent that got involved. I love cheering and I love the excitement it brings to the fans.” Melanie will also be the coach during the winter basketball season. She wants to see the middle school girls who don’t play basketball have a squad so they can stay in shape. “Sports are important to your overall physical health.” she added. Coach Torrance is looking forward to a very exciting season and we wish her all the best with her team.
-- AdminComments
Comment from lisad2
Time: July 23, 2008, 2:50 pm
I was very pleased to hear that the cheerleaders have a new coach. I have been present at the games (basketball, volleyball, etc.) and have not seen any cheerleaders there or if they were there they were not cheering. I for one like to hear them cheer.
I was told (when I inquired about why they were not cheering) that the girls felt they did not get enough reaction from the crowd, so they were like “whats the use”. Girls always remember, not everyone will interact with the cheers but that does not mean you’re not appreciated or they do not want you there.. or it does not even mean they don’t like hearing you.. so CHEER every chance you get and let’s keep the school spirit GOING whatever the game or event is BE THERE AND BE HAPPY.
–Lisa Dodson
Write a comment