Oniska Blevins | The Selma Times-Journal

Pompoms and high kicks will be in abundance as cheerleaders from several schools throughout the city take center stage at the Edgewood Elementary School Spring Fling Cheer Extravaganza today.

The School of Discovery will be the stomping ground as cheerleaders bring out their best cheers and chants for the audience. The event will start at 5 p.m. and will end around 7 p.m.

Edgewood Elementary School cheer coach Yolanda Johnson said the students are excited and ready to have fun while raising money for their cause. 

Admission is $3 for ages five and up and free for children four and under. All proceeds raised from the fundraiser will benefit the cheerleader’s travel expenses for their end of the year fieldtrip.

Under the leadership of both Johnson and co-cheer coach Janice Hudson, they have performed at PTO meetings, the annual Selma-Dallas County Christmas Parade, Selma High School homecoming parade and pep rallies.

Even though the squad cheers for fun, they also often perform for worthy local causes.

They visit local nursing homes to cheer for the elderly and give them gifts during Christmas time.

Cheerleading squads from Cedar Park Elementary, Payne Elementary, Knox Elementary, Clark Elementary, School of Discovery, R.B. Hudson Middle School and Edgewood Elementary will be performing.

According to Johnson, cheerleading is about more than just them clapping their hands and stomping their feet.

She said it teaches the students how to be comfortable speaking in front of large groups of people as well as provide necessary social skills.

She said even though the cheerleaders perform as a group, often times some of them will lead cheers and/or speak individually.

“It will help with public speaking as far as them being able to stand in front of a crowd and deliver a speech,” she said.

Johnson said she hopes this is not the end of the students’ cheer careers. She said she wants them to continue to excel and strive to cheer in the future.

“I want them to be able have confidence in themselves to get up and try out, make the team and just do a good job performing,” she said.

After the last group performs all teams will join them on stage and perform a unity cheer.