It’s that time again for Marco Island Academy athletes and students: Football season is here. and the anticipation for kickoff builds up.

As the anticipation for the kickoff builds up, the MIA cheer team prepares to root for their home team. MIA cheerleaders, also known as Lady Rays, prepare for this season’s practice and train every day, working on stunts, cheers, and chants for those “Friday Night Lights.”

With over 90 chants and new techniques, guidance is very important.

Team Captain Cassie Letendre shares some insight on what it means to be the team leader.

“I have some “littles” that I am in charge of, and I make sure that they come to every practice and they know what they’re doing, and that they know their chants. That’s our goal.”

Letendre is a junior and is in her second year on the cheer team and plans to make this season the best.

“It’s a big responsibility, but it’s fun and I enjoy walking into practice and hanging out with my girls.”

MIA has reached peak numbers in Lady Rays this season; the differences between last year are not going unnoticed. From a very small roster of 15 girls last season to now 25, hopes continue for the number of peppy cheerleaders to rise next season as well. 

“Last year we didn’t have enough girls, so we had maybe two or three backs. Having more girls allows us to focus on many different areas that we can work on,” junior Mary Montgomery explains.

As challenging as it is to perform physically, it can be a mental struggle for the athlete as well. Cheerleaders in particular face difficult challenges that, if reacted by, can affect the entire performance.

Ella Nelson, junior, has been cheering for the Rays for two years now.

 “It’s very common to have mental blocks. You have a lot of specific things, like different parts of your body, that you have to use and use the right way.” 

Both Nelson and third-year cheerleader Alyssa Polanco agree that attention towards mental health shouldn’t be discouraged, but rather normalized and better advocated for among student-athletes.

“It’s hard, but you have to keep reminding yourself, “You can do it,” “It’s all in your head”, and “I get past my negative thoughts and resume doing the things I love.” 

So, come out and watch our football games this season, and keep your eye on the Lady Rays. 

Go Rays!