Harlingen cheer camp builds confidence, friendships

HARLINGEN — The boundless movements and the laughing and the enthusiasm of their formations announced the excitement of the girls.

“Line up in two rows!” called out Katreena Pendergrass, a volunteer at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harlingen.

The girls quickly formed two long rows and then they were squatting on one leg and with the other leg straight to the side and then they were up with arms overhead and there was the setting of the beat with the “one-two-three-four-five-six-seven …”

Katreena and the 30 girls had gathered in one of the gyms of the Main Unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harlingen for Cheer Camp.

“They are happy to be here,” she said. “I am having fun.”

All the girls definitely appeared to be having fun.

“I am enjoying it a lot actually,” said Landry Munoz, 9. “It’s a lot of fun.”

The cheer camp has been a staple of the Club’s summer program for many years and each year is different.

“Last year we had cradles as stunts, and this year we are doing regular stands on people’s knees,” Landry said.

A cradle move involves a girl falling back who is caught in a seated position by other girls. It can be a most daring and impressive stunt.

Yessica Mendoza, staff member at the Main, said the class has been divided into two groups, one of which was doing the cradles. The other group was doing the regular stunts standing on each other’s knees.

“We are adding something this year,” Yessica said. “They are doing their TikTok dances.”

This was not something Yessica could coach.

“They are teaching me something,” she said with a laugh, as the girls performed their own dances from TikTok.

There was much joy and unrestrained glee and excitement as they danced under the direction of their own musical natures, the music taking them to wherever they wished to be.

Many said the thing they most enjoyed about Cheer Camp was the meeting of friends.

“I am enjoying it a lot because I have my friends here,” said Mikah Wolf, 9. “It’s about the experience. The experience is really great.”

Cheer Camp helps build character and confidence, Katreena said, drawing from her own experience.

“Cheer Camp is something I have done since forever,” she said. “I was this shy quiet girl. Once I started cheering…it made me more outgoing.”

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