For many students, the best part of football season is not the games themselves but rather the half time shows and other performances, like pep rallies. These performances would not be the same without the contributions of the band, drill team, color guard and cheer squad.
“My favorite part is the dancers,” freshman Haleigh Greenhouse said. “They’re so entertaining and the team is really good this year.”
And, indeed, they are very entertaining. The Starlettes spend lots of time on their practices, putting hour after hour into perfecting their moves to the beat of the drums.
This year, they do it with a rather unique addition to the company. Junior Franklin Burleson is currently the only male Starlette on the team, effectively singling him out for the better. Last year, Burleson was the manager of the team so this year marks his entrance into the spotlight.
“I think he’s good, he’s got a lot of spirit,” Greenhouse said. “He’s always smiling and giving it his all.”
However, despite the stereotypes, Franklin continues to pursue this ambition to the fullest, dancing with the rest of the Starlettes at half times shows and at the pep rallies.
The Starlettes are not the only group with male additions. The cheerleaders can also claim junior Eric Carrizales as the only male member of the squad. Last year, Jonah Cowan was the male cheerleader for the team but has left the squad, leaving Carrizales in that place. Despite a recent injury, Carrizales can be seen flipping and cheering on the side lines and during other performances.
“It’s exciting with the crowds watching you,” junior Erik Carrizales said. “Other than the band, you’re the football teams motivation to keep on going.”
Color Guard also boasts a male member among a predominately female team.
“It’s difficult, sometimes, with color guard being predominately female, but he gives it his all,” sophomore Kaitlen Kennedy.
Junior Hunter Griffin is one of the newest members of the flag-twirling team, playing a leading role in the band’s new competitive routine, the Gumshoe Chronicles. This new routine features prop walls that are moved around the field for the benefit of the performance.
“It’s different but I love it,” junior Hunter Griffin said. “It’s very rewarding.”
In high school, being different is often frowned upon. However, Burleson, Carrizales and Griffin take athleticism to new heights and follow their dreams. Each of them proves that gender doesn’t have much of an impact on competitive performance.