September 3, 2026, Seward Folly Staff

Under clear skies and warm temperatures, the Seward Seahawk Football Team faced the Valdez Buccaneers this past weekend. The Seahawks won 66 to 26. Alongside the football team, the Seward cheerleaders led the crowd, contributing to the atmosphere and supporting the players throughout the game.

Photos by Brittany Swanson

Coach Brittany Swanson leads a seven-member cheer squad this season. The group has grown slowly, as she explains: “When we started football cheer, we had five, then six the next year, and now seven. Growth is slow, partly because football cheer happens at the same time as volleyball and cross country, so we’re always competing for students. We haven’t had any boys join yet, though we’d welcome them. Some boys have shown interest in being the mascot or helping with stunting, but none have fully committed to the team.”

Assistant coach Lola Swanson balances her coaching duties with work, online college courses, and preparation for a move to Steps on Broadway Conservatory for dance in January.

The team welcomes two freshmen this year, Ruby Hughes and Adelai Andersen. Josie Andrews is new to football cheer but has cheered for basketball for three years. The season is progressing with good weather, new teams in the football program, and more competition as cheer gains ground as a sport. Recruiting is difficult since the cheer season starts in July, before school begins, which overlaps with summer jobs and vacations.

“By the time basketball starts, everyone’s back into a regular schedule, which makes things easier,” Swanson says.

Addison Gerlach and Sophia Hughes are this year’s co-captains.

Gerlach notes, “Our team is looking pretty good. We have some new members this year, so there’s always a bit of catching up for them, especially since some of the girls have been working on the fundamentals for three years now. Still, the new members are picking things up quickly, and you can really see how hard everyone is working.”

Practices begin with several laps around the field, followed by stretching and strength circuits for abs, arms, and legs. The squad then works on kicks and jumps.

“Drilling jumps and kicks every day makes it a lot easier to hit them during the game,” Gerlach says.

The team reviews new cheers daily for several days and revisits the entire cheer list about once a week, especially before games.

Swanson emphasizes that cheerleading requires commitment: “It’s important for anyone who wants to join the team — whether a girl or a guy — to take it seriously. Cheer is often underestimated as a sport, but we work hard and give it our all. Anyone interested should know it takes effort and commitment. It’s not something that just comes instantly; you have to work for it.”

Swanson points out a challenge: “Unlike basketball, where kids can start young and develop skills over years, most students don’t get to try cheer until high school. By the time they become proficient, they’re graduating.” To address this, Hive Dance Studio, run by Brittany and Lola Swanson, plans to launch a youth cheer program for students as young as six.

The program relies on new members each year. “When there are only a few girls on the team, it discourages others from joining. The goal is to make freshmen feel confident from day one, instead of spending their first two years just learning the basics, and to keep the program strong so it doesn’t fizzle out after a few graduating classes,” Swanson says. She adds that cheer has become a supportive environment for students.

After football season, the team will compete at Colony High School’s Rally in the Valley, a cheer competition with divisions for different squad sizes. Last year saw record participation, and Seward’s cheerleaders plan to return.

Assistant coach Lola Swanson reflects on her experience: “Coaching has been really fun. When I was on the team, I helped my mom a lot, but it wasn’t in a professional capacity. Now, I’m fully certified through ASA and NFHS, so I can coach and also teach stunting.”

She will continue coaching football cheer until January but does not plan to coach basketball cheer.

Seahawk Cheerleading Roster

• Addison Gerlach (Co-Captain)
• Sophia Hughes (Co-Captain)
• Josie Andrews
• Kenzie Davis
• Atigun Petersen
• Ruby Hughes
• Adelai Andersen
• Coach: Brittany Swanson
• Assistant Coach: Lola Swanson

As the cheer team continues to grow and adapt, both coaches and athletes are working to create a steady, supportive space for new members and returning students alike. With continued effort and outreach, Seward’s cheerleaders hope to build a lasting program that encourages participation, teamwork, and school spirit for years to come.