BETHEL — Three times a week this summer, about 15 young cheerleaders gathered on the softball field at Telstar High School, full of energy and optimism. There’s no high school cheering program yet — but if these kids have anything to say about it, that’s only a matter of time.

Coach Amanda Chevarie, of Berlin, New Hampshire, along with moms Tearah Stone, Ambrosia Gregory and Mackenzie Legere, all of Bethel, launched a cheerleading clinic in August 2024 through Bethel Recreation.

Before one practice in August, Chevarie’s 7-year-old daughter, Lila, sprinted across the field.

“I didn’t want to miss it,” Chevarie said.

One young girl clinging to her mom at the edge of the field was “a little nervous,” her mother said. Most, though, bounced with excitement.

This year’s $20 summer program welcomed boys and girls from prekindergarten through eighth grade and came with a keepsake tank top.

Some of the children had never cheered before, while nearly all of last year’s participants returned.

The four moms behind the program met in different ways — Gregory and Chevarie connected through their sons’ football practices. 

During the recent practice, Gregory led two small groups through stunting practice. She guided them through the basics: a flyer and three bases — front, back and sides.

“So bases, get that nice wide stance,” she instructed. Then to the flyer, “Bounce. Look up.”

The squad also worked on tumbling.

Standing on the baseline, Gregory shouted, “Five, six, seven, eight. One, two, roll three, four.” It takes a few tries, but eventually, they hit the timing.

Twelve-year-old Sakari Durgin, of Bethel, coach Stone’s daughter, is one of the older girls and, like some of the others, cheers competitively.

“When I was younger I used to watch those cheer shows. I always loved the big bows. I just loved it,” Durgin said.

Durgin said the popular Netflix documentary “Cheer” was part of her inspiration. The series, which follows Navarro College’s elite cheering squad, highlights the grit, struggles and powerful bonds that define the sport.

Music is part of the magic, too. The girls compete to their own mix of mostly 1990s pop and rock. Last year’s lineup included “Welcome to the Jungle.”

Despite their enthusiasm, the children may have a while to wait before cheering is offered in Maine School Administrative District 44 based in Bethel.

“Cheerleading at Telstar has been attempted two or three times in the past 15 years and has never gotten a foothold for consistent numbers of participants, coaches, etc.,” Superintendent Mark Kenney said. “Unfortunately our current school size works against us when attempting to keep adding new sports on top of what we already offer and to keep them viable at this time. A lot of it simply comes down to student participation numbers, spacing, budget, etc.”

Adding a new sport can be a complicated process, he said.

“For a new sport to be presented, they first need to form a club and approach the building administration and athletic coordinator for a series of three years before it could be added in as a sport,” Kenney said. Further, at the high school level they need to comply with all Maine Principals Association guidelines.

In the meantime, as fall football season approaches, the young cheerleaders have been prepping to cheer on Sundays for Telstar’s Pee-Wees football team. Matching blue-and-black T-shirts, skorts and bows will be the uniform.

Three days a week Durgin completes field hockey practice and heads down the hill at Telstar to cheer. She is hopeful she will be part of a high school squad eventually.

“If there’s enough of us, I want to cheer in high school,” she said.