CHEERING THROUGH COVID-19

On Friday, Sept. 25, Beechcroft High School hosted Columbus City Schools rival East in a football game. Watching football during the COVID-19 era is a strange site. Fans cheers are muzzled with masks. The crowd was about 20 to 30 percent of the size that it would normally be on a warm autumn Friday night.

The Beechcroft marching band which usually has at least 30 players on various instruments like flute, trumpet, clarinet is now a five-piece brass ensemble teamed with about four or five more drummers.

It's also crazy to see cheerleaders fight through masks to show expression and entertain the audience in an attempt keep things lively. The girls did their best to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 era by performing their routines, while using as much charisma as possible.

Senior cheerleader Ta'Aliyah Palmer took a little time out to give us an inside view of what it is like to be a student and cheerleader during these times.

Did you ever in a million years imagine your senior year going like this? What are some of the positives and negatives about these times as a senior in high school?

Ta'Aliyah: So no, this was so unexpected. I didn’t think that my senior year would be like this. My negatives are that I didn’t get to have a regular season and I can’t actually go to school. It’s also hard on academics because it’s hard to contact teachers. The positive is that I don’t have to wake up everyday at 7 a.m. for school.

You're a cheerleader and volleyball player. Has the team and cheer squad gotten closer during these times or has it been difficult to do so?

I would say both. We haven’t gotten able to bond because of COVID-19. We haven’t done any of our bonding activities. But also because of COVID we try to still have fun & connect as a team .

What are the usual things you do to bond?

We would go to a hotel where we swim and exchange gifts, or we would all go to the movies or a fun place.

Tonight was your senior night. What is the best thing about going to Beechcroft? What's your favorite memory and biggest accomplishment as a student?

The best thing was being a student athlete and the different academic opportunities. All of this will be one big memory. My biggest accomplishment will be graduating with a diploma and an associates degree because of the academic opportunity that was provided.

This question may be silly but here goes. A big part of cheerleading is smiling. These days you all have your smiles covered. Does it make you guys have to work harder to get the crowd into the game?

Yes, I feel like having to cheer with masks on covers our personality and that makes the crowd look more dull.

You have plans to become a nurse. Why did you choose that field and has this pandemic made you want to help people even more?

I chose this field because I care about people and would love to help them. Yes this pandemic has made me want to help people even more.

You saw what happened to the class of 2020 where they had to have a virtual graduation and prom. Have your friends and class tried to think creatively of some things you all can do to celebrate the end of your senior year?

Yes like a little parade to the school where parents and family members can come. Kind of like what they did last year. We really haven’t started to think that far ahead yet.

What does it take to be a good cheerleader and what have you learned most from the experience? Are their any misconceptions about cheerleaders that are not true?

In my opinion being a good Cheerleader just means showing up to practice ready to work hard. Giving it your all and showing interest will make you a good cheerleader. And yes, cheer is a sport. People feel like cheer isn’t a sport but in actuality cheer involves stunts, tumbling, and jumps. We also practice and work just as hard as football and basketball players. We're just not chasing after a ball.

Along with COVID-19, issues of social injustice have been a big deal. What are your opinions of what has been happening and have you been involved in the process.

There was a big protest going on downtown. I went to walk with my parents while also trying to social distance with mask on. But I was more focused on the injustice that was going on .