From the Wolf pack to a pack of Vandals.
Sequim High grad-to-be Brianna Jack is taking her classroom and cheerleading talents east to the University of Idaho this fall after recently earning a spot on the vandals’ cheer squad.
Jack got her start in cheer as a freshman at Sequim High, first cheering on the junior varsity squad before earning a spot on varsity as a sophomore and working her way up to captain.
She said she transitioned her ballet skills (11 years worth) for the sport.
“My grandmom, my mom, my aunt all did cheer — I got encouraged (to try out) — but it’s super exciting and something I’ve always wanted to do,” Jack said.
“I like the element of engaging the crowd; (cheer) is super exciting, the whole energy of it,” she said. “And it’s a great way to stay active.”
Jack said her favorite part of cheer is stunting.
“Things do happen (with stunts), even if everyone is being super safe trying a new stunt — especially when you’re throwing them up in the air.”
She said she was excited to see her squad compete against other teams this past season.
“We were actually able to compete and get that recognition,” Jack said.
That background paid off for the SHS senior in the application process for U of I, one that saw her and others learn moves and submit a video for a first round of selections, then a second video submittal showing off skills and stunts.
Jack will be following in some family footsteps when she heads out east: her brother Brendan, a 2019 SHS graduate, is a freshman at the Moscow, Idaho, school.
“It had big school feel I was going for but it’s still pretty small — the undergrad population is pretty small,” she said. “When I first went there (on a visit) I fell in love with it.”
The university has scheduled a summer camp for July but Jack said that, with novel coronavirus concerns still limiting some meetings, that may be on hold.
Jack said she hasn’t declared a major but is thinking about studying advertising and/or marketing.
The Vandals’ cheer squad participates in four sporting events: men’s and women’s basketball, football and volleyball.
Jack joins SHS classmate/cheer squad teammate Kianna Miller on a college squad; Miller was selected for a spot on the Western Washington University cheer team in April.
