By: Shea Fisher ’19, Staff Writer

It has been a challenging start to the year for LVC cheerleading.

Just days before moving in for preseason camp, the squad was notified that both its head and assistant coaches resigned from their positions.

“I was pretty much speechless,” McKenzie Pavlik, a senior captain, said.

Without coaches, added responsibilities and challenges fell into the hands of the captains.

“I think the biggest challenge is getting the back-end stuff done,” Pavlik said. “[The stuff] that I didn’t even know we did.”

They have to make sure that everyone has uniforms, scheduling, meals, organizing the vans and lunches for away games and keeping the team motivated.

“My biggest concern was that we were not going to have direction with things and be disorganized,” Kayleigh Paccio, a freshman flyer, said. “But, our captains are doing a great job pushing us to be our best.”

This unique situation has caused personal setbacks for team members.

“Personally, I like to be pushed by a coach so that’s something I’m lacking,” Paccio said.

The cheerleaders have been working hard to get game material and their annual homecoming routine ready. The team thinks that the season has gone a lot better than expected.

Help has been extended by former coaches, alumni and parents. These volunteers have kept the team on track. Athletic director Rick Beard stepped up to be the adviser for the team until a coach is found.

slf005@lvc.edu