The Española Spartans cheer team is back for 2021, giving youth cheerleaders a chance to perform and compete in Española.
Spartans coach Alisha Duran, who also coaches cheer at Española Elementary School, is excited to get back after having any chances to perform last year. Duran coaches alongside her daughter, Destiny.
Española Mayor Javier Sanchez and the City Council presented the Spartans cheer team with a certificate of excellence at an Aug. 24 ceremony in recognition of their participation and performance at the county backpack giveaway.
The Spartans, ages four to 12, cheer alongside the youth football team in a Northern New Mexico football league. They also participate in competitions in the area. Duran said there are 38 girls on the team.
The start of the season was pushed back from late August until into September due to the pandemic, Duran said, and they started practicing in July. This year’s competitions are scheduled for Oct. 4 and a championship Oct. 24.
“If the whole season is going to be canceled once again, I just wanted them to feel a little bit special,” Duran said. “They were not able to participate in anything last year. I know a lot of them were really bummed out.”
They did not get to perform during 2020 at all due to the pandemic.
Duran said she is proud of the way that everyone shows up to practice regularly, multiple times per week. Duran herself has to balance being the team coach with a job at the hospital.
“I’m just really, really proud of them,” Duran said.
For this year, Duran hopes that they are able to cheer at all seven football games, and attend competitions in October.
Councilor Peggy Sue Martinez was part of the group that gave the Spartans the certificate, saying how disciplined and organized the team was.
“For me, it makes me happy to see that we did something,” Duran said. “We put on a show. It just makes me happy to see how far they’ve come.”