Bristow’s cheerleading program is getting a new Cheer Facility, a big step after years of effort. The building might be ready by early October, though no exact date is set. Since at least the early 2000s, the team has needed a permanent space. The current coach, a 2010 Bristow High School graduate, knows the struggle of moving between gyms based on other sports’ schedules. The team hauls nine heavy 6-foot-by-42-foot mats, relocated about 15 times in the last five years. Without a locker room, cheerleaders store equipment in an elementary gym, uniforms in a shared high school closet, and items like signs, speakers, poms, and medical kits are always on the move. Despite these challenges, Bristow’s cheer team has a strong record: 10 regional championships, five state runner-up finishes, and two OSSAA Performance State titles. Limited space has made it hard to compete in year-round events like OSSAA Game Day State, UCA, or NCA Nationals, which often clash with basketball season. Last year, the team joined spring STUNT Games when a gym was free.
Coaches and supporters say cheerleaders, who perform tough stunts, tumbling, and routines, deserve the same support as other sports with their own facilities. These athletes practice long hours, compete for state titles twice a year, and support school spirit at football, basketball, and wrestling events. Many also play other sports, making it an ultimate juggling act of time. The new facility will give the team a stable home, help the program grow, and make the community proud. These young athletes are hardworking students whose skills could flourish and represent The Purple Pirates and Bristow.