The school gym is abuzz with its new sophomores and returning juniors and seniors for the first pep rally of the year, Rock the Rebels. There’s excitement in the air as the cheerleaders begin their routine and there is an obvious new addition to the team.

“At first I was scared, but after I got out there it was just fun and exciting,” said sophomore Ryan Reed.

Reed performed at his first pep rally as a cheerleader, and the crowd went wild.

“He’s so awesome and cute!” said senior Marian Trejo.

Reed began cheerleading at the early age of four and has been cheering ever since. Now, he is a part of the 2012 cheer team.

“Tryouts were hard at first because I’m not a fast learner,” said Reed.

It has been four years since the squad has had a male cheerleaders, and he is the first since cheerleading coach Chantelle Rateliff has been in charge of the program.

“I love having him on the team. I’m really proud of him. I think it’s great that we have a boy on the team,” said Coach Rateliff. “There needs to be men on the football field and the mat. Times have changed.”

Because the cheerleading team does consist of mostly girls, the choreography is tailored to fit the squad’s strengths. Reed does not perform in the dances and is given a lot of freedom from his coach who is also very flexible at modifying routines.

Aside from being an inspiration to other males, Reed proves to be a very inspirational person to his fellow teammates as well.

“I like having him on the team because he’s a motivational person and he wants us all to do our best,” said sophomore Kacie Jenkins. “He wants us to be the best, so he drives us all to be that.”

It was the first of many performances for Reed, and students will be see him cheer on the Wildcats much more this year.