As captain of the 2026-2027 Woodland Cheer team, Natalie Strachan leads with 

hard work, dedication, and a deep focus on team bonding.

   Being a flyer in cheer for the past seven years, Strachan has built an incredibly strong bond with her team. “My favorite memory from cheer is probably the team bonding experience. We have a very close team and this year’s pasta dinner was definitely one of my favorite memories.” Supporting teammates and encouraging one another when things get hard is a very important aspect of cheerleading. 

   Cheerleading is a sport that takes a lot of commitment and work ethic, but most importantly it is about working together to help each other grow to be the best they can be. “This is the most talented and connected team I’ve seen throughout my whole high school experience,” said Strachan. 

   Game days are one of the most exciting parts of being a cheerleader, bringing the feeling of being involved in something big and showcasing school spirit.  Strachan explains how her favorite thing about game day is “the anticipation leading up to the game and seeing all of our hard work in stunts and cheers get shown off.”

  This season,  Strachan is most excited to see how they perform on the competition floor.  Competitions are another important piece of cheerleading. They give cheerleaders a dedicated space to be recognized purely as elite athletes for their tumbling, stunting, and conditioning.

   Competitions give cheerleaders the chance to move from performing on the sidelines to taking center stage. Being a sideline cheerleader or an All-Star cheerleader, which is competing either for your school or another company, gives you the chance to get comfortable performing in front of a crowd. Cheer can help build your overall confidence and is an amazing way to get involved or make lifelong friendships. 

    Having the role of cheer captain can be challenging, but Strachan also sees it as an amazing opportunity. “Being a cheer captain is a really big responsibility, but I wouldn’t change any part of it.”