63 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com our sports On a Friday night in Mount Pleasant, the cheerleaders are easy to spot. They are standing on the sidelines beneath the stadium lights, rallying the crowd, supporting their classmates and helping turn a football game into something bigger than what happens on the field. But what the community sees during those few hours is only a small part of what it means to be a high school cheerleader. Behind every routine are hours of practice. Behind every stunt is trust. Behind every uniform is a team of young women learning how to work together, lead one another and represent something larger than the individual. Across Mount Pleasant’s high schools, cheer programs may look different, but the coaches leading them describe a remarkably similar purpose: creating a place where athletes can find their people while becoming stronger, more confident versions of themselves. A TRADITION THAT KEEPS GROWING The story of high school spirit in Mount Pleasant is also a story of a community that has grown and changed. For decades, Wando High School was the town’s primary public high school. The school opened in 1973, following a period of school integration and a reshaping of Mount Pleasant’s educational landscape. As the community continued to grow, so did the need for more schools. Lucy Beckham High School opened in 2020 as Mount Pleasant’s second comprehensive public high school, creating a new Cheer LOUD and PROUD Celebrating Community Spirit BY MARY BELL Behind the bows, stunts and Friday night lights, Mount Pleasant’s high school cheerleaders are building something bigger than a team: community Photos by Mark Staff.
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