Stunt Studs' add edge to cheer squad

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

Although they're usually seen on the sidelines more than the playing field or court, the Bigfork High School cheerleaders have the longest season out of all the BHS activities.

Under coach Heather Epperly's advisement and coaching, the cheerleaders began working together in June, participated in the 4th of July parade and started practice in August. Their season continues through the fall and winter, ending only after basketball is finished. Any competitions add to the season's length as well.

The team had a few latecomers this season — five to be exact. Kris Gimbel, Kenny Patrick, Andrew Olsen, Jerry Rose and Chance Anderson, otherwise known as the "Stunt Studs," joined the squad a few weeks before the Northwestern A Divisional Basketball tournament. Epperly said the boys observed the squad's practice one day and came ready to work the next day.

"They were so enthusiastic. They brought a new energy to the squad," Epperly said. "We were able to do some collegiate-level stunts. Our stunts are stronger and more stable," Epperly said of the boys' strength compared to girls. She added that the girls prefer dancing to being bruised, which occurred frequently when it was an all-female squad.

Previously, the squad did solely group stunting which limited the number of fliers. With the "Studs" on board, the team did more partner stunting. Bigfork performed chairs, in which the flier sits on their partner's one hand, as well as higher and more stable basket tosses with the addition of the "Studs."

"We're more secure with the guys," sophomore cheerleaders Juliann Urban and Jen Carlson agreed. "The stunts are safer. They're not afraid to catch anybody. We trust them."

Epperly said it takes time to find a good partner, as both people must master a number of techniques.

"You have to have just the right timing," she said.

The partners grow together throughout the season, as does the entire squad, Urban and Carlson said.

Bigfork's squad loses five senior girls and one senior boy to graduation this year, which means Epperly stands the chance of having a squad with more boys than girls. She's heard that there are number of 8th-grade boys interested in joining the team next year as freshmen. In that case, the team will need more girls to join and be fliers so every member of the squad is utilized and they can perform "a real crowd-pleaser," according to Urban and Carlson.