3 Union cheerleaders pull double duty
RIMERSBURG, Clarion County— Share and share alike.
Such a scenario exists for extracurricular activities at small high schools — and Union cheerleaders Jolene Patterson, Sammy Barger and Brittany Gauger are taking full advantage.
All three help lead the cheers on the sidelines at Union High School football games on Friday nights, then join the Golden Knights' marching band to perform at halftime.
Patterson, a freshman, plays the trombone. Barger, a sophomore, and Gauger, a junior, play the drums.
"We have to share kids. Every coach or director of any activity here recognizes that,"Union band director Lisa Hummel said. "None of us could exist otherwise."
That means splitting up practice time and, at times, missing performances or games.
Barger runs cross country along with her cheerleading and band activities. She missed the final cross country meet of the season to participate in Union's band festival recently.
"Performance takes precedent over practice,"Hummel said. "The quantity of performances plays a factor, too. There are 10 cross country meets, but only one band festival. That's why Sammy did the band festival."
Barger has been in the band for three years, in cheerleading for two. She played the clarinet her first year before switching to bass drum."Sometimes the practices get in the way of each other, but not very often,"Barger said of cheering and band. "I may miss an hour of one practice to get to the other."The coaches all work together. They make it work so we can do both."Patterson has done cheerleading and band for three years each. Like Barger, she started out on the clarinet."I switched to trombone because Miss Hummel needed someone there," she said. "It wasn't hard to switch. Besides, it comes in handy for jazz band."While this trio is leading cheers, fellow band members keep an eye on their instruments in the stands. Shortly before halftime, they vacate the sidelines, join the band in the stands and march on to the field, still in their cheerleading uniforms."It doesn't feel awkward at all,"Gauger said about not wearing a band uniform. "We're used to it. Besides, it makes us stand out more."The other cheerleaders get halftime off while we're playing in the band, so we get the third quarter off, in case we want to get something to eat or just take a little break."Asked what activity they prefer, none of the girls could provide a definitive answer."I was in cheerleading first, but really liked band and wanted to try it,"Patterson said. "I also love cheerleading and didn't want to quit.""Both are fun,"Barger agreed.Gauger has been playing a musical instrument since fifth grade. She only began cheerleading last year."I've been part of a dance team since I was 4 years old,"she said. "Some of my friends got into cheerleading and talked me into trying it. Now I love it."I'm just glad I go to a small school where I can do both. At a big school, you probably can't do this."I've never missed a practice for either and I can't put one above the other. Fortunately, I don't have to," she added.
