Ella Bach

Ella Bach is one of four freshmen on varsity cheerleading for their fall and winter seasons. She’s had experience cheering in the past on a competitive team during sixth and seventh grade.

Originally, Bach was not interested in focusing solely on cheerleading, but after trying lacrosse, soccer, basketball and swim, she decided that cheer was the sport for her.

Bach has practice three days a week, with each practice typically lasting for three hours. The cheer team has to be at every event to cheer for other sports. Additionally, she tumbles at the Gym Spot in Mundelein and the Libertyville Gymnastics Academy with her team and by herself.

“[Cheer is] just really time consuming. It makes it harder to manage my time because there’s a lot of stuff going on and it’s my freshman year, so I’m still trying to get used to everything. It’s not that bad because I enjoy cheering,” expressed Bach.

On the mat, “[Bach] is a great, great base… she’s an excellent dancer and jumper,” said the assistant varsity cheerleading coach, Ms. Julianne Luick. Ms. Luick explained that these are some of the main reasons why Bach was chosen to be on varsity. Varsity cheer’s competitive season will start in winter.

“Through cheer, you get really close with the team. It’s a family almost and it’s a bond,” Bach said. “It doesn’t matter what grade you’re in. It’s not like you can’t hang out with the freshmen because they’re freshmen. It’s like you’re hanging out with everyone because you’re friends with everyone.”

Katie Kates, Ashley O’Shea, and Morgan Helstad are the three other freshmen on varsity cheer with Bach.