Senior Mady Lifshutz initially pursued a spot on the cheerleading team to preserve a hobby that she enjoys — dance. Despite dancing competitively from the early age of two and a half all the way until she was 15 years old, she no longer dances competitively, although she still has a passion for it and she still practices frequently.
When she was younger, she was intensely dedicated to dance, having even received her very own dance room — complete with Marley floors and full length wall mirrors — for Christmas.
Lifshutz officially signed up for the cheerleading team her sophomore year as a side base — a position that she still holds today, and that involves her lifting up and supporting another cheerleader with the palms of her hands during drills.
Lifshutz’s transition from dance to cheer went smoothly, however, she had to adjust to using her voice more often. “[In] dance, you don’t really yell ever,” she said. “Having to be able to be [comfortable] using my voice, especially as an introvert, it’s a little bit harder.”
Her remedy for this is surprisingly simple — what she described as “exposure therapy.”
When she’s on the field at games, she said she feels “like I’m able to separate myself from who I am regularly.”
At sports games, Lifshutz’s favorite part is seeing the student section, as well as the spectator’s atmosphere, “it just feels really special,” she said.
Lifshutz emphasized that, outside of games, her favorite part of cheer is the sisterhood it brings and the community it fosters. “If I’m having a bad day, I can go to cheer, and I know I can talk to someone,” she said.
She also paid special homage to her new coach Sarahi Welton, who she said is someone who will push her to her limits, but is also someone she can talk to who will help her through anything she needs.
Her biggest influences across the board are her coaches — past and present — who she said “helped me realize what I’m supposed to be.”
In academics, Lifshutz described Honors French 4 as her favorite class — and Ms. Amanda Barker as her favorite teacher. She has been in Ms. Barker’s class all four years of her high school career and also appreciates having a group who has been there since day one with her. Ms. Barker “knows what I can do,” she said.
Lifshutz noted that while she has two practices, one game a week, and tries to spend eight hours a week on dance, she has not had any academic challenges due to sports.
“You can get it done if you put in the effort, don’t wait until the last minute,” she said.
Reflecting on the season thus far, Lifshutz appreciates the time she spent on the bus going to and from away games. “Talking to the team, talking to Sarahi, it’s just such a fun time,” she said. “I think that’s where the bonding has been done.”
