‘Little Sisters’ cheerful in JCC program

Let’s get fired up! It’s time to fight!

Girls from 7 to 13 years old learned how to encourage the Jefferson Community College men’s basketball team in style at the fourth annual Little Sister cheerleading program.

The girls had an hour with members of the JCC Cheerleading Club to learn all about high kicks, splits and sportsmanship before cheering for the last Cannoneers game at 3 p.m. Saturday at the college.

“Most years, we’ve always had an abundance,” said Chelsea M. Walts, cheerleading coach. “This year, we did it on such short notice, there might be some girls who won’t have a little sister.”

She said the program has nothing to do with the official Big Brothers, Big Sisters program, but developed from the same idea of giving children someone to look up to.

During the hourlong practice, most of the cheerleaders appeared to enjoy working with their charges, some of whom had prior experience with Pop Warner, Fort Drum Mountaineers Squad and NNY All-Starz.

“It’s a great opportunity for them to see there is something beyond high school and All-Starz,” said Jennifer L. Spaulding, mother of Emma L., 9, and Anna R., 8.

Some parents, such as Latasha P. Elder, just wanted to see how prepared their child was for the sport.

“She’s really interested in cheerleading,” said Mrs. Elder, mother of Joy E., 5.

This was Joy’s first time cheering, and she was pretty nervous. However, when the cheerleaders did their routines in unison, she followed along with confidence.

“The girls learn by watching their big sisters,” Miss Walts said. “They’re taught discipline. Also, cheerleading is about being supportive. Shadowing the other girls gives them an opportunity to learn that.”

Megan A. Scordo, cheerleading club president, agreed.

“They look up to the older girls and it gives them something fun to do,” she said.

They learn it is not important to cheer just for JCC’s team; they should cheer for themselves and be supportive of their fellow cheerleaders.

The program is among many community projects the club works on throughout the school year. Its next project is to raffle off a basket to aid the family of a 5-year-old who died of a brain tumor.