Within the crisp morning air, Lehigh cheerleaders kick off Lehigh-Lafayette recreation day with spirit and cheers echoing throughout campus lengthy earlier than soccer gamers take the sector.
The nation’s longest uninterrupted annual soccer recreation — Lehigh vs. Lafayette — marks its 161st anniversary this Saturday.
Junior cheer captain Alyssa Vandett mentioned the week main as much as the sport is without doubt one of the busiest of the season, because the staff balances the beginning of basketball video games with campus occasions.
“This week for us is tremendous thrilling and likewise the busiest, however attending to be a face on campus, getting folks concerned and interacting with our group is a particular a part of this week,” she mentioned.
On recreation day morning, the staff attends the President’s Tailgate — a convention the place cheerleaders meet with each Lehigh and Lafayette’s presidents and carry out cheers and stunts for them. Vandett mentioned the occasion helps construct the day’s pleasure and vitality.
Pregame tailgates, she mentioned, are amongst her favourite components of soccer season.
This week, the staff cheered at two basketball video games — the boys hosted St. Francis College on Tuesday and the ladies hosted Drexel College on Wednesday.
However Vandett mentioned their most enjoyable occasions occur on Thursday.
The staff joins the Marching 97 for “EcoFlame,” when the band performs Lehigh songs in lecture rooms all through the morning. She mentioned Ecoflame is a favourite custom on campus among the many cheerleaders.
Sophomore Vivian Mollenhauer mentioned she considers it the perfect day to be a Lehigh cheerleader.
“We stroll round campus with the Marching 97 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and dance in lecture rooms,” Mollenhauer mentioned. “Final yr, we acquired to bop in Professor (Frank) Gunter’s Economics class. Somebody mentioned that was the primary time anybody noticed him smile.”
Later that day, the staff cheers on runners on the annual Turkey Trot.
After Lehigh hosted the sport two years in a row, The Rivalry might be performed at Lafayette’s Fisher Stadium this yr.
Mollenhauer mentioned she expects an enormous turnout from Lehigh followers and robust group vitality.
“This season, we have now had good climate and the crowds are a lot greater than final yr,” she mentioned. “Cheering at Le-Laf final yr was unimaginable. The stadium was packed, and the vitality was incredible.”
This might be Vandett’s first Le-Laf recreation off her house turf, and he or she mentioned she feels barely unsure about performing in a brand new atmosphere.
Nonetheless, she mentioned she’s getting ready the squad for the depth to ensure they’ll bear in mind their drills, stunts and cheers.
“It forces us to step out of our consolation zone to encourage folks to return and for us to work together with followers,” Vandett mentioned.
She mentioned the captains assist information first-years by Rivalry Week traditions and the intimidating environment.
Hannah Rosenel, considered one of three seniors on the squad, mentioned her class yr is the one group on the staff with expertise cheering at an away Le-Laf recreation.
Although she needs her ultimate rivalry recreation have been at house, she mentioned she’s serving to put together the first-years.
“We’ve got been taking time in apply to debate and put together what’s going on for the sport and this week,” Rosenel mentioned. “It is going to be irritating being in a special atmosphere, however it needs to be enjoyable.”
She mentioned final yr was particularly memorable, as she was on the sector when Lehigh received and followers stormed to take down the goalpost.
Rosenel mentioned she hopes to make her ultimate Le-Laf simply as memorable.
As an enormous believer in house discipline benefit, Rosenel mentioned she needs her final recreation was at house. Regardless, she’s nonetheless excited for Saturday.
“I sit up for Le-Laf yearly, and it’s upsetting that is my final,” she mentioned.
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