JISD Cheer Director speaks to Lions Club about past season

JISD Cheer Director speaks to Lions Club about past season Brian Smith Wed, 03/06/2024 - 5:07 pm   Jacksboro ISD Cheer Director Jaci Pippen speaks to Jacksboro Lions Club members at their Wednesday, Feb. 28 meeting. Photo/Brian Smith Insight into what keeps Jacksboro’s National and State Champion cheerleading squad going was given to Jacksboro Lions during their Wednesday, Feb. 28 meeting. Jacksboro ISD Cheerleading Director Jaci Pippen is in her sixth year with the district and said when she _rst came back to town, there were six varsity cheerleaders and freshmen were not allowed to be on varsity. Now there are 24 varsity cheerleaders through all four grades. In her time as coach, the squad has won four state titles and _nished runner up a _fth. Cheerleading is a year round sport in Jacksboro, starting with tryouts in January followed by camp. The girls get a month off in July before getting ready for both football and volleyball season. “These girls practice Monday-Friday before school and during _rst period,” Pippen explained. “They have to have a level of commitment and accountability.” Competition season runs between begins in November with two competitions per month into January. After winning state for the third straight year, the girls returned to nationals in Dallas for the second straight year, hoping to improve on last year’s 3rd-place _nish. Nationals is against the best of the best from around the country, even larger 6A schools. “We need to be competing up against the 6As,” Pippen said. “I’m not doing them a service by competing down.” The national title was a tribute to the hard work the girls put in both in and out of the gym. “It’s not the rings and medals they have received over the years,” Pippen explained. “The girls have a bond they have created. Some of the girls have gone through life changing events. Cheerleading is such a positive outlet for them. It’s something that keeps them motivated.” Senior Captain Abbie Payson, who has won three state medals said being a cheerleader has “blessed me with the best friends I will ever have.” She said coming back to attempt to three-peat a state title had lots of pressure but also lots of rewards, according to Payson. “There was a lot of pressure,” Payson said. “Coach didn’t really say a lot to us. We were prepared well enough and knew what we had to do.”