By Julia Rockler

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School cheerleading team opens its competition season on Saturday, Feb. 14, with 11 athletes training five days a week in hopes of advancing to regionals. 

Practices run for hours after school as the team prepares its routines, which include stunts, tumbling and choreography that demand strength and endurance.

“It is a common misconception that cheerleading is just about waving pom poms and jumping around cheering for other teams,” said head coach Lindsay Halupowski. 

“Cheerleaders are athletes,” she said. “It takes a lot of stamina, muscles, and strength just like any other sport,” she added. 

Halupowski, who began cheer at age seven and continued throughout college, is coaching her first season at the high school level and draws on her prior coaching experience to drive her team to qualification. She prioritizes building trust and connection among both new and returning team members.

Team captain Helen Lee, a first-year captain with a background in gymnastics, said Halupowski’s leadership has helped strengthen the program. 

“Coach Halupowski is very patient, very bubbly, and she is not afraid to advocate for us as a team,” she said. Lee said her goal this season is to elevate the team’s skill level and introduce new elements to competition routines. She credited strong team cohesion for helping the athletes raise more than $1,000 to support merchandise purchases, uniform upgrades and equipment needs.

Athletic Director Craig Genualdo, in his 14th year at Hamilton-Wenham, said the cheer program reflects the school’s broader athletic values.“The program values process over results. Hard work, trust, dedication, and perseverance are what matters and our cheer team shows that,’’ said Genualdo. He added that the team brings positivity in the school and is focused on working hard all year for their competitions. 

Freshman Eleanor Anderson said her background in dance has helped her transition into cheerleading. She described her teammates as welcoming and supportive.

‘’This group is very welcoming and I feel comfortable going to practice and I know everyone is being there to support me,” she said. 

The Generals begin their season Feb. 14 at Wilmington High School. They will also compete in the Tri-Valley League Championship and the Blackhawk Invitational on Feb. 15 at Bellingham High School. Both events begin at 1 p.m.

 For updates throughout the season, follow the team on Instagram: @hw.cheer.

 Julia Rockler is a student at Endicott College studying journalism. This story is written in partnership with the Massachusetts News Service.