Hi Meaghan. How long have you been cheering for? And how long have you been part of the UMass Boston cheerleading program?

I have been cheerleading for 17 years, and been a part of UMB Cheer for 4 years.

How did you get started cheering at UMass Boston?

In my first year, the captains had reached out to me to try out. At the time I was still a part of my home gym, so scheduling did not work out. But the following year, I tried out and was so happy that I did! It's a great way to get involved and meet new friends.

What teams are offered in Cheer? Do you need certain skills to try out?

Our program has two teams: a game team and a competition team. Our game team requires no experience and is less commitment. They practice once a week and perform at the UMB Men’s Basketball games. The competition team practices 3 or more times a week, and we do recommend prior experience. Stunting experience is very important, as well as having specific tumbling skills: standing three back handsprings, toe touch back handspring, and roundoff back handspring tuck.

What competition does your team attend?

We go to NCA Nationals in Daytona Florida. This past season was our 3rd time qualifying. We earned 3rd place in the nation!

How do you balance being a student and cheering?

Being a cheerleader made me a better student. I have always believed that the busier I am, the better I do academically. However, I know that isn’t the case for everyone. Being a cheerleader developed good time management skills for myself. We have a peer mentor program on the team. Our veteran athletes will be matched with others on the team with similar programs and meet with them regularly throughout the year. Lastly, we do offer study sessions as a team, both in person and virtual. It’s a good opportunity to get together and get some work done!

What is your favorite memory?

This is a hard one! My favorite memories range from signing the bottom of our mats at my last practice, placing second in the country in Daytona in 2023, and writing out our fears on balloons and popping them this year at nationals!

What would you tell someone who's thinking about cheering for next season?

Go for it! This is your last opportunity to cheer, and you do not want to miss out. Most of my friends I have made throughout college have been from the cheerleading program, and I have some of my favorite memories because of this team. At the very least, try it out and see what the program is about. I promise you won’t regret it