By SHANNON COLLETTI, Contributor 

The Vandegrift High School varsity and JV cheer teams welcomed young cheerleaders to their annual Lil Viper Cheer Clinic on July 26. Seventy-five elementary-age girls attended the clinic held at the high school. Attendees wore matching pink Viper t-shirts as they learned how to stunt, dance, cheer and chant. The girls also enjoyed crafts, ate pizza, decorated cupcakes, and played games with the high schoolers. The day ended when parents watched the girls show off what they learned.

“Vandegrift Cheer hosts the Lil Viper Clinic every year to connect with our community, foster the relationship between the cheerleaders and k-6th grade students, and inspire our little Vipers to dream big,” said new Varsity Cheer Coach Sydney Warnock. “My hope is that our campers feel inspired to not only set big goals but achieve them. I also hope they learn that supporting their friends and teammates is what makes cheer—or any sport or club—so much fun!”

By attending the clinic, campers also get to cheer with the VHS cheerleaders at the Varsity football game September 5 at Future Viper Night.

Senior Varsity Cheer Captain Madeline Bischoff helped lead her fourth clinic and said she likes making the girls feel like they’re part of Viper Cheer. 

“One of my favorite things is seeing how happy they are to be around us,” she said. “They look up to us, and that’s a special feeling.”