SPECIAL FEATURE Photo by Christine Le, Jersey Village High School The Jersey Village Falcons have preserved their pre-game traditions for over 15 years Shining the light on those that make Friday night football games unforgettable Written by Marysabel Cardozo Photos courtesy of Cy-Fair ISD 28 CY-FAIR MAGAZINE FALL 2015 Visit CyFairMagazine.com for Cy-Fair jobs, events, news and more.
Athletes sit in the locker rooms, channeling their nerves into the drive needed to gain a win for their school. Girls on the drill team reapply their scarlet red lipstick in the stands while cheerleaders stretch on the sideline. After countless hours of practicing, each group is ready to do its part to make a Friday night football game one to remember. Cy Woods Crimson Cadettes Cy-Fair varsity cheerleader Shayli Christensen Award-winning Cy Ranch High School band CY-FAIR S FOOTBALL TEAMS Setting Sights on the End Zone Each week, football players put in hard work in hopes of bringing home a victory in the upcoming game. These teams spend a grueling amount of time in the sizzling Texas heat, and watch hours of film in order to draw up winning plays and strategies. Trent Faith, coach of the Cy Woods Wildcats, expects his athletes to be on time and ready to give it their all, both on and off the field. Senior R.J. Harmon, the Wildcats running back, is excited to enjoy his last year with his teammates. I am looking forward to putting on a show for the fans and doing all I can to get a win. As for the livelihood of Friday night games, Faith agrees his team definitely adds to it. Our football team provides great entertainment as we play an exciting brand of football, he says. Faith also credits everyone else involved for making these games the treat that they are. It is very exciting to see all of the groups involved, such as the band, drill teams, cheerleaders, and fans, Faith says. The players also feel the rush of the night s excitement. Nick Sorensen, wide receiver r for the Cy Ranch Mustangs, knows there s nothing quite like it. The best part of playing on Friday nights is going out with your brothers and playing the game we love, says Sorenson. The atmosphere is awesome. THE BAND Pumping up the Crowd When you first arrive to a Friday night football game, one of the first things you hear is the music. Cy Falls band director, Shawn McAnear, says the school s band begins preparing four hours before kick-off. We ll rehearse for an hour, eat dinner, dress in uniform, and load all of our equipment to travel to the site, says McAnear. Once they arrive, the band unloads and does warm-ups. They enter the stadium 30 minutes before the start of the game to play the school song, fight song, and the national anthem. However, their hard work doesn t just happen the day of the game. During the week, students must memorize their eight-minute marching song, along with the school song, and fight song. In addition, they learn the coordinates to 75 to 80 drill spots that help form the visual aspect of their show. Our role as the single largest organization at Cy Falls is to provide entertainment during halftime and support our fans and team during the game, says McAnear. The support is undeniably a two-way street. The positive response we receive from the crowd after performing is why these kids do what they do. To advertise, call 281-579-9831 or email sales@cyfairmagazine.com CY-FAIR MAGAZINE FALL 2015 29
Varsity squad cheers on the Cy Springs Panthers A new way to connect Connect with electricity from Shyne Energy for simple fixed rate plans, no hidden fees and concierge customer service Call 832 932 9239 or visit shyneenergy.com and get connected today! Texas Energy Company PUC License #10221 SPIRIT LEADERS Inspiring Cy-Pride Aside from the music and the athletes on the field, two other key groups are the cheerleading squad and drill team. These groups not only amp up the crowd s spirit, they also leave hundreds in awe of their flawless routines. Nevertheless, these exciting performances can t happen without days of practicing before and during football season. Kristen Schulze, cheerleading coach at Langham Creek, says her team of 18 cheerleaders and one mascot practice several times a week in preparation. We usually have a different cheer each week that we work on with stunts or tumbling, she says. The Cy Woods Crimson Cadettes start practicing for the season in late July with a summer camp, which requires them to practice for approximately six to nine hours a day in order to perfect their routines. Apart from games, the Lobos cheerleading team is required to be at all practices, pep rallies, and any other school activities they might have throughout the year. Among these are the annual cheer clinic, homecoming festivities, and state competitions. Cadettes never have an off season. They are always practicing and working on something, says Lauren Reilley, Cy Woods drill team instructor. When football season is over, the dancers prepare for their competition season, and end each school year with a spring performance that showcases their year s work. Reilley credits Cy Woods strong school spirit and the community for always attending the football games. They are always cheering on the football team and us also when we perform at halftime. Cy-Fair ISD s Friday night football games are a multi-level experience that combine the thrill of the game with the sensational performances of the high school band and spirit leaders. These groups strive to provide a positive experience for the fans, but don t always realize the positive impact it has on them as students. At the end of the night, it s not the numbers on the scoreboard that matter; it s the hard work and values learned that will last them a lifetime long after the stadium lights have been turned off. CFM MARYSABEL CARDOZO is a football fan and Cy-Fair ISD alum and has fond memories of Friday night lights from high school. 30 CY-FAIR MAGAZINE FALL 2015 Visit CyFairMagazine.com for Cy-Fair jobs, events, news and more.
Since 1982... A terrific place for children to grow and play! We love coming to school! Our environment is healthy, safe and fun. We have incredible playgrounds and no shortage of classroom resources. Our teachers are experienced, thoughtful, kind, respectful, and they provide loving guidance. Tomball 910 Village Square Dr. Tomball, Tx 77375 281-547-0405 Before & After School Care for Tomball, Magnolia & Klein Elementary Schools Cypress 13922 Schmidt Rd. Cypress, Tx 77429 281-890-7498 Before & After School Care for Cy-Fair Elementary Schools Programs We Offer: Infants (Tomball only) Toddlers Pre-School Pre-Kindergarten School Age Summer Camp Tour our facilities or visit our website today! BuildingRainbowsDaySchool.com To advertise, call 281-579-9831 or email sales@cyfairmagazine.com CY-FAIR MAGAZINE FALL 2015 31
PREGAME TRADITIONS Cy Falls The Varsity team recites the prayer Day by Day giving the younger players something to look forward to Cy Lakes Keeping the kids relaxed, focused, and ready to play Cy Ranch Pre-game meal at Luby s Cy Ridge Team dinner at Golden Corral CypressChristian.org Cy Springs Chant their battle cry: F3 (family, focus, finish) K-12 Established 1978 Serving Northwest Houston 281.469.8829 Cy Woods Team dinners at a player s house the night before each game Learn day or night. On campus or online. LSC-CyFair offers affordable and flexible options! Jersey Village A pre-game meal that is prepared by the parents Langham Creek The players use white tape to spell the word win over the locker room exit door Associate degrees, workforce certificates and more! REGISTER NOW! Fall Semester starts Aug. 24. Late Start classes available in September and October. Save the date Nov. 7 for Cy-Fest 11! Three convenient locations! LSC-CyFair GO TO A GAME Home games are typically played at the Berry Center or Ken Pridgeon Stadium Game tickets are sold at cyfairtickets.com and often need to be purchased prior to the game 9191 Barker Cypress at West Road Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students with a valid student ID LSC-Fairbanks Center 14955 Northwest Freeway near Beltway 8 LSC-Cypress Center 19710 Clay Road at Fry Road LoneStar.edu Open Doors 32 CY-FAIR MAGAZINE FALL 2015 Visit CyFairMagazine.com for Cy-Fair jobs, events, news and more.