With the new coaching staff this year, a new era of wrestling has unfolded. Following suit, the wrestling cheerleaders are beginning a new era themselves.

After a number of years cheering, the squad folded two years ago due to a lack of interest. But, the squad is making a come back for the 2010- 2011 wrestling season.

Jasmine Chanthavisouk, junior, was interested in being a wrestling cheerleader, so she approached Shelly Justin, language arts teacher, to see if she would sponsor the club. Chanthavisouk has no previous experience as a wrestling cheerleader, but thought she might as well give it a try.

“I wanted to try wrestling cheerleading because I thought it would be fun and I wanted to try something new,” Chanthavisouk said.

Justin agreed to Chanthavisouk’s request. She co-coaches the squad along with Lauren Helbig, senior. Four other girls decided to join the team giving it five members.

Chanthavisouk said she hopes even more people try out wrestling cheerleading in future years.

“Hopefully it will get bigger next year, since we are going to try to have a JV team,” she said.

For this season, the wrestling cheerleaders committed to cheering at all the varsity wrestling home matches, but have even extended their duties to away matches, such as the match against Parkway South. Justin also said the squad may try to fit in even more away matches if possible.

Chanthavisouk said the season is going very well so far.

“The girls and I are practicing really hard with our cheers and learning new wrestling moves as well,” Chanthavisouk said.

And even though, they are classified as “cheerleaders” Chanthavisouk said wrestling cheerleaders are a lot different than people that cheer for football and basketball.

“We don’t do any flips or anything too fancy,” Chanthavisouk said. “We do a lot of chants to get the wrestlers pumped up.”

Wrestler Matt Mosior, senior, said he is excited to see the return of wrestling cheerleaders, after two years of having no one beside the mats to cheer the team on.

“It’s exciting,” Mosior said. “I think it will bring more spirit and get us all pumped up.”

Justin agreed and said this is the whole purpose of the wrestling cheerleaders.

“It’s for spirit,” Justin said. “Wrestling doesn’t get many cheerleaders at their matches, so it’s nice for them to have support.”

Look out for the cheerleaders at the next home varsity match Wednesday Jan. 19, against Lafayette.

“We have a great group of girls, everyone is really excited,” Chanthavisouk said. “Come out and support us.”