Roles got reversed at Fischer Field on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2025, marking the first year of male leaders. Male leaders is a time for men to try cheerleading and create many memories in a place on the field that they don´t typically stand on.
This idea was put together and proposed by some of the senior cheerleaders. ¨We’ve always entertained the idea, but we were uncertain about our ability to bring it to life,” senior Brittney Terbovich said. ¨We believed it would be fun and exciting, and that boys would enjoy participating.¨
After bringing the topic up, there was nothing but positivity and determination from the cheer coach. With this mindset, the cheer coach and her team, as well as administrators, were able to start the recruitment process. This process started with an Instagram post and was followed by emails and announcements at school. ¨Once approved, the process of recruiting male participants proved to be more time-consuming than anticipated,¨ Terbovich said.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a super large turnout, but the ones who signed up enjoyed it. It allowed the guys to embrace the idea of swapped positions for the game fully. ¨ It was really fun and gave me something to do with my friends,¨ sophomore Kinnick Frey said.
As November begins and crowds gather for the event, unpredictable weather becomes part of the experience. Fortunately, this year the temperatures stayed mild, making it easier for everyone to enjoy. The pleasant weather not only set a welcoming tone but also added an element of realism; cheerleaders, after all, rarely know what conditions they’ll face. ¨The weather was good, and it made it easier to cheer,¨ sophomore Michael Salas said.
To prepare for the event, the cheerleaders organized a couple of practice sessions specifically for their class of boys. During these practices, the boys learned chants, worked on perfecting their formation, and picked up tips on how to bring energy and enthusiasm to the performance. The group adapted quickly and improved with each session, demonstrating a strong willingness to learn. “While the performance wasn’t flawless, it was incredibly enjoyable and fascinating to observe the boys’ progress throughout the process,” Terbovich said.
The crowd’s enthusiastic response reflected just how much effort the group had invested and how much they had grown in a short amount of time. ¨The crowd got pretty into it, and that was cool,¨ Frey said.
Unlike a typical football game, the male leaders were unable to perform any stunts for various reasons. This appeared to be one of the only negatives for the boys. ¨One thing that did not go well was that we did not get to do stunts,¨ Frey said.
The boys ended the night with a great reflection of what they accomplished, not only for themselves but in front of filled bleachers and an audience intrigued by this new concept. They took their questionable dance moves and did something new with them. ¨ I have pretty good toe touches,¨ Salas said.
There was mixed feedback from everyone who watched. Although there was mainly excitement coming from the stand, there were other unnecessary comments made, too. This definitely isn´t going to stop Salas from doing it again. ¨Haters gonna hate,¨ Salas said.
The cheerleaders wish to continue this and hopefully turn it into a new tradition, with hopes of a bigger turnout in the future years. ¨Given the enjoyment it brings to the boys, teachers, and fans, I believe it has the potential to become a cherished annual event,¨ Terbovich said.
