Vista del Lago cheer program builds on team spirit

The spirit and confidence is alive and well in the Vista del Lago High School varsity, junior varsity and freshman cheerleading programs. In the first year which the school has all four grades, the Vista cheer program kicked off the year at UCA (United Cheer Association) Camp at UC Davis with five girls chosen as All-Stars, qualifying them to perform in the London New Year's Day Parade. The All-Star performers include Anna Bach (freshman), Kristen Flores (freshman), Lauren Heddinger (freshman), Amy Luong (varsity) and Alexa Hess (varsity).Coached by Melanie Heimburg, all three squads (41 girls in all), traveled to Napa High School on Sept. 10-11 and Friday to see the freshman, JV and varsity teams all win their games against the Napa Indians. Supported by huge crowd of Vista cheer and football parents, the girls led the crowd to their feet in support of three exciting games. A fan favorite with the Vista varsity cheer squad is the push-ups they do totaling team points each time the football team scores. By the end of the varsity game against Napa, a 28-20 victory for the Eagles, the cheerleaders had completed 70 push-ups, as the crowd counted along."We are so proud to have 41 girls participating in the cheer program this season, and we are working toward building a tradition of skill, excellence and accomplishment," said Vista del Lago Cheer Advisor Darcy Amiss. "We enjoy building enthusiasm for our sports programs by promoting school spirit and performing routines that are exciting for our fans." Furthering Vista's vision to build spirit throughout the school and community, all three cheer squads hosted events and made night-time deliveries of signs and goodies to each football player (28 freshman, 34 JV, and 37 varsity) wishing them luck the night before their game. The JV cheerleaders delivered signs to their football team the night before the Napa game. The freshman and varsity cheerleaders delivered signs to their teams last week in anticipation of games played against Casa Roble."The impact of a supported football team goes further than the posters and the cheers," Varsity football parent Karla White said. "We, as a crowd, are able to follow and get excited for our players and team when we have such a terrific cheer squad to follow. I think they represent our high school with pride and maturity, and that brings and says a lot about our girls. They show faith in our guys to play as hard as they can and do the best job they know how. I am grateful, and I know from the other parents that we love them and thank them for being a part of our football nights and rallies!"Assisting Heimburg in coaching the girls are Krista Worthington (freshman squad) and Heidi Long (JV and varsity squad). The varsity cheerleaders are lettered as athletes at Vista del Lago High School, practicing year-round while performing throughout football and basketball seasons.