By ALISON BRADSHAW

At the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, the Redlands East Valley High School cheerleaders were without a head varsity coach.  The team found a coach in REV teacher Jennifer Rhodus, who, in a short few months, has been able to help the girls come together and grow as a team.

Rhodus had coached cheerleading at REV four years ago. She had been coming in just to help, but this year she was asked to step in and be the new head cheer coach. This will be her second year coaching cheer, and she has been coaching other sports for a total of eight years.

Julia Richardson, REV senior and varsity cheer member, said about Rhodus, “Without her, we wouldn’t even have a cheer program. She stepped in when she didn’t expect to and has really done everything she can do to help us. I’m so grateful we have her this year.”

Senior cheer co-captain Carly Rich said, “She is amazing to give up her time and all her effort to us.”

Rich shared some of her best accomplishments while being on the team, which includes placing fourth at nationals her sophomore year and also winning their regional competition.

Both Rhodus and Rich said stunting, basketing and tumbling are some of their team’s best skills, adding that most of the time the girls teach themselves.

Rhodus said that “the team is always pushing themselves to get better.”

This year REV cheer signed up for four regional competitions, where they will go against a number of other schools. Each school has to score an 85 or higher to move on to nationals.

REV was able to qualify for nationals at their first competition on Jan. 12.