Varsity cheer coach Kayla Clark wasn’t wrong when she dubbed the cheer squad the “positive ambassador of the school.” Though the long-awaited 97th annual Little Big Game resulted in a 35-10 Burlingame loss and a soul-crushing defeat on Saturday, Nov. 9, both junior varsity (JV) and varsity cheer teams sustained spirit throughout the tense game with a show-stopping halftime performance that rejuvenated the student section.

“It was definitely very stressful going into it because we were stressing over whether or not we would hit [the routine], but I am really proud of the team because we ended up coming through and every stunt hit,” senior varsity cheer captain Jordyn Nawrocki said. “That was especially happy to see because it’s JV’s first performance in a varsity game, and because JV this year has a lot more new members rather than returning cheerleaders.”

Sophomore and first-year cheerleader Brooklyn Bryant highlighted how practicing and performing with varsity, though challenging, gave her opportunities to become more experienced and attuned to the rest of the team.

“Especially being on JV, you have to put in your all into the biggest performance of the year,” Bryant said. “Working and practicing with varsity was very fun but also stressful, and there were times where I let myself down during practices, plus some communication with my peers and coaches that was rough, but overall it was also an experience to get to know how others work and persevere through challenges.”

The halftime performance began with the cheerleaders dancing energetically to “Work (Remix)” by A$AP Ferg and “23” by Mike WiLL Made-It, followed by a special showcase of the graduating senior cheerleaders with “Good Form” by Nicki Minaj playing in the background. For Nawrocki, this highlight was especially touching as she performed for her last Little Big Game performance.

“Seeing all the younger members behind us [with their pom-poms] forming a 2025 was just very bittersweet and happy,” Nawrocki said. “Every other year it’s been me and the other seniors doing that, so it’s crazy to now be the ones in the front row performing.”

But the most striking moment of the entire halftime performance was the series of stunts that could have only been pulled off by consistent, meticulous practice to ensure perfection. With “Type S***” by Future, “Family Ties” by Baby Keem, and “Money in the Grave” by Drake energizing the crowd, the cheer squad first performed a fan kick into a heel stretch with a cradle before moving into a kickline.

Tumblers, including senior Lucy Istock, juniors Eva Mercer, Mia Robelo, and Natalia Cerc, and sophomores Danielle Song and Maya Terlicher, later performed on the floor. This was followed by four different baskets with flyers Istock, Mercer, juniors Katie Trevor, Paige Cornelius, Mischa Fellner, and sophomore Gracie Nielsen. The thrilling performance ended with a pyramid plus a flip, two arabesques, and a split handstand.

But with such an intricately choreographed performance came intense practices to ensure consistency throughout the routine. Though attendance was a challenge for the coaches and captains to finalize specific routine details, Clark applauded the cheerleaders for their hard work and set her sights on team goals for the future football seasons to come.

“I hope we can maintain the level we’re at now but also continue to teach more difficult skills to people who have no experience to cheer,” Clark said. “What I’ve noticed, especially when it comes to JV, is that there’s not a ton of experience on that team because they’re so new to cheerleading, at least for stunting, so just teaching them little by little with examples from varsity and continue to build up the program with technique and timing [will be crucial for improvement], especially without practices during the spring season.”

As the JV and varsity teams transition to sideline cheer for the winter basketball season, Nawrocki reflects on how impactful the cheer community has been throughout her high school years.

“I’m definitely going to miss the cheer team so much,” Nawrocki said. “I’ve created so many friendships with people that I likely would never have had the opportunity to talk to otherwise, including my best friends today. So it’s really sad to leave football season behind, but I’m honestly so excited to see what the team continues to do in the years to come, and I hope the best for the rest of the football seasons to come.”