The Little Girl Who Fell In Love With Cheer
For as long as I can remember, cheerleading has been my happiness. From pop-warner cheer, late night tumbling classes, to All-star cheer, making my high school competition team, and to finally completing my dreams of being a college cheerleader. I started cheerleading at just 6 years old where I have been surrounded by pom-poms, glittery bows, and shiny uniforms.
The thrill of cheering on the sidelines with the biggest crowd in front of me knowing I have the biggest smile on my face doing something I absolutely love. The rush of excitement before a competition hugging your teammates knowing all the work you’ve done all year for the day of competing to finally come.
I have always dreamt of the day where I’d get the opportunity to try out for a college cheer team, and finally it feels like I’ve accomplished all of my dreams just being a part of this team. Being a UCSB cheerleader has changed my life in so many ways.
The Journey to UCSB
After committing to the school of my dreams I knew I needed to give myself the chance to try out for the cheer team with the highest hopes of making it. Knowing whether I made the team or not I made the right decision for putting myself out there. Day 1 of tryouts I remember being filled with so many emotions from being excited to being nervous to constantly practicing the material in the car with my mom as we drove to UCSB. Day 1 was awesome, I met so many new people and till this day my bestest friends. I remember leaving and telling my mom how much I enjoyed being surrounded by such talented people. I was so nervous the rest of the day because I hoped I’d get a call back for Day 2.
Thankfully I made it to Day 2! I was absolutely ecstatic and knew today was the day I’d work towards my whole life and I had to have the most confidence in myself. Day 2 was even better than Day 1 and I remember just being filled with so much happiness, and I knew this team had my heart. May 25th, 2025, was the day I became a UCSB Cheerleader.
The Reality Behind the Uniform
The UCSB Gameday team practices twice a week, and we cheer at least once or twice a week. Our Gameday team works all year working on performances, stunting, and enthusiastic cheers. We cheer for a variety of sports, the most popular ones being UCSB Mens Soccer and UCSB Mens Basketball. We also enjoy cheering for our amazing women’s sports, a few being UCSB Women’s Soccer, UCSB Women’s Basketball, and UCSB Women’s Volleyball.
Not only does UCSB have a Gameday cheer team but we also have our competition team. Our competition team is filled with 20 amazing athletes who work all year to represent UCSB at the D1 All-Girl level in Daytona Nationals, Florida. Our competition team is focused on highly skilled stunting, tumbling, and performing. This team practices twice a week along with weekend practices, they put so much effort in representing our school.
Our cheerleading program is a big group of amazing athletes who represent UCSB in different ways, from supporting our sports teams, to competing at a D1 level, and most of all supporting one another. These athletes put so much work alongside balancing academics, jobs, clubs, and sororities.
Finding your people
UCSB Cheer has introduced me to so many new people from all around the world, bringing us together to share a passion in what we love. I met my best friend/roommate Jazzy on Day 1 of tryouts and I couldn’t be more thankful for the cheer team to have brought us together and getting the the chance to experience all of freshman year to now sophomore year together. I also met my amazing cheer big Bree who I absolutely adore and see as one of my biggest role models, Bree was the first person who made me feel like I had a home away from home.
I now live with 3 of my teammates and am so glad I met them. I was so scared to not find a group of people that would have the same humor as me, or share love as if we were one big family. But these girls have my whole heart and absolutely make everyday feel so special. I would consider all of the cheer team to be my family, we are all filled with laughter, love, and resilience. I am lucky to be surrounded by such amazing people and have the most amazing captains and executive board who lead our program.
Our program is student ran and I have had the opportunity to be this year’s treasurer and I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity to work alongside such intelligent individuals. Such as our Competition captains Kennedy Powell and Kamila Kuroda who also work alongside our competition coach Carlos Onofre. Our Gameday captains Chloe Currell and Kaitlyn Riley. Our president Izzie Mariani, Vice President Izzy Gutierrez, our outreach coordinator Kai Nool.
A full-circle moment
If it weren’t for my parents who push me everyday and have supported my cheer journey from day 1. I truly don’t think I would have ever made the best team ever or met my best friends.
Thank you, Mom and Dad. I am so thankful to be a UCSB cheerleader, and every day the little girl in me is so beyond happy. I am accomplishing the goals of 6-year-old Melanie but also living the dream I have always hoped for.
To the girls out there, push yourself, try out for that team, and don’t be afraid to meet new people. Channel that little girl in you and make her proud.