Sports teams that work hard on and off the field of play and exhibit great core values like accountability, growth, respect to others, quality, and service — like the teams at Chick-fil-A — top the list of achievers.
They are the Chick-fil-A ‘A-Team.’
Like just about every high school sports team, the Trigg County High School cheerleaders rely on fundraisers to pay for normal expenses for its season, which runs from July to the end of basketball season.
The fundraisers, mostly car washes and the sale of some products, involve the support of the community.
Because of the support of the community, the cheerleading team last weekend decided to give back.
After cheering on the Wildcats to a win on the gridiron Friday night, the squad donned safety vests on Saturday and picked up trash along the new bike and pedestrian trail along U.S. 68.
“We do a lot of fundraising throughout the year and our community does a whole lot for our program and I feel like picking up trash along the walking trail was a great way to give back,” assistant cheer coach Haley Moser said.
The team began at the Lawrence Memorial Bridge in Canton and picked up trash for a five-mile stretch.
Moser said it took about two hours to get the five-mile stretch finished on what was a warmer-than-expected day with temperatures in the low 90s.
Junior cheerleader Madi Moser said the project was also great for team bonding, even when frustration with the heat and each other may have crept into their work.
“I feel like it made us as a whole closer because like we had to be out there in super hot weather and we were all getting on each other’s nerves at times,” she said, adding she would want to do it again.
Between 20 and 25 bags of trash were picked up alongside the road in a short amount of time, which was a bit surprising to junior Miley Johnson.
“There were a lot of big pieces of trash, almost like construction-like pieces that we would pull up off the side. We picked up (restaurant) to-go boxes and a bunch of just different cups.”
If you are missing some Ford floor mats for your vehicle, Miley and her group found them.
“There was a bunch of trash that we were just like ‘Why would somebody throw this out here,” said junior cheerleader Roslynn Bell.
While the trash pickup shows an embarrassing side to how people treat Mother Earth, the cheerleaders also get to see the positive side of the human race through the fundraisers.
“I think it’s really great that we have a community that’s there for us,” Madi said. “I feel like us giving back shows them how much we appreciate them and how much we appreciate their support.”
For Miley, the project is something she has done with another school group.
“We wouldn’t be able to go to nationals without our community and all of our fundraisers,” she said. “I’ve actually done the trash pickup before with FFA. I’ve always loved it. It’s super simple, but it makes a big impact.”
The project gave the squad a feeling of satisfaction, not only because of the cleaner roadside but also because of the sense of community service.
“It sounds like a cliché, but it was good to give back to our community because they do give us so much. They’re always there cheering for us,” Roslynn said. “People are used to seeing the glamorous side of things and that they’re for a show. This was a way to get out and do something that is just an ordinary thing.”
It probably won’t be the only time you see the Trigg cheerleaders out picking up trash.
“We definitely want to do this again. It was a good bonding experience for our girls and it definitely helped the community. Anything else that anyone needs, we are willing to do,” Coach Moser said.
Odds are, they may pick a cooler day next time.
