Don’t get it wrong: poms and cheer are different

The cheer and poms teams line up for a performance during the last football game of the season

Marissa Fitt

The cheer and poms teams line up for a performance during the last football game of the season

Elizabeth Beagle, Ranger Review Reporter

The poms sparkle as they are swept through the air by the dance team. They move to each beat of the music expressing each part of the dance. Their dance lines flow precisely from one formation to another in perfect harmony. A minute later, black and orange poms fly onto the field with the cheer team. Some launch into the air while others lift off into a towering pyramid while shouting the ranger cheers. Each shout, jump, stunt and movement is sharp, which corresponds to a silent beat.

A common myth believed by students is that the poms squad is just a cheerleading team with music. However, coaches and members on both teams think otherwise. These female athletes believe that the teams aren’t the same, but in fact  are two separate sports.

“Cheer and poms are as different from each other as football is to basketball. They are completely separate: different coaches, different rules and different areas of performance,” poms captain Ashley Cherry, 12, said.

Coaching the cheer team is Christina Pearce. She is certified to coach in tumbling and oversee every stunt the team performs. Like Pearce, Marlene Beatty is also certified to coach, but her certification is for dance. Having different coaches means each team has its own  distinct way to critique its performances.

Meghan Schaefer, 11, has had the unique opportunity to experience both teams. After two years of dancing with poms, Schaefer decided to give cheer a try, and has a good insight of both teams.

“My poms coach was critiquing on every move and making sure everything was smooth and flowing, and the cheer coach made sure everything was sharp and went together,” Schaefer, 11, said.

Both the dance and cheerleading teams perform not only during sporting events but also during assemblies and activities. The visual contrasts between the two performances are coherent. The cheer team is loud bringing the student body spirit into the gym doing stunts, handsprings and flips; everything sharp and precise. Poms girls, on the other hand, put their hearts to the music showing spirit through the intricate dance lines making sure everything is flowing to the each note of the music.

“Yeah, Cheer and Poms are different, but they’re  also a good way of showing expression while displaying school spirit at the same time,” Schaefer said.