Despite the popularity brought to the sporting world of competitive cheer from film series like Bring it On and the Netflix series Cheer, high school programs like the Santa Clara Bruins are still having to do everything they can, and more, to gain even an ounce of respect. For two straight years, the Santa Clara Bruins’ competitive cheer team has ended the season as CCS Champions, but has done so with little fanfare compared to other sports. Head Coach Erica Fuller is giving everything she has to try to change that, not for her sake, but for the sake of her combined 21 athletes and assistant coaches. 

Along with her two assistant coaches, Mikayla Molina and Casey Abrigo, Fuller coached a squad of 19 athletes this season. The team featured 10 seniors, led by captain Corey Fuller, along with Viviana Villalobos, Jackie Duran, Mariama Diallo, Trinity Navarro, Natalie Vo, Sophia Hernandez, Sierra Sato, Valerie Valverde and Allison Hurley. Joining the senior class were juniors Elia Sudre, Mykese McGee, Aina Dever, Carolina Rivera Flores, Isabella Carranco, sophomores Mackenzie Dickerson and Kaylee Sager, and freshmen Bethany Ernest and Evelyn Morris. 

The often overlooked sport features some of the most impressive athletic feats from competitors of all genders. Speed, strength, agility and flexibility, the squad must execute its routine at a high level just like any other sport. Proving that to the masses, though, continues to be a challenge. 

“We joined the sport of TCC [Traditional Competitive Cheer] in the CCS two years ago, so this was our second year. Both years, we took home the CCS title and a lot of people do not know that,” chimed coach Fuller in a sit-down interview with The Voice. “Just to get the recognition from the school, that is where I want to put my passion, to show everybody that it is a sport, it is truly a sport.

“It is not cheering on the sidelines for another team. This is a competition team that puts in a lot of work and dedication, just as much as any other sport,” Fuller continued. “There is still a long way to go to prove ourselves. I still have people coming up to me, and they are like, ‘Oh, is that for real? Does that truly happen?’ I think people see what we do, but then forget about it. I want to show everybody that it’s more than just a small club.

“I think there are [TV] shows out there that are still showing cheer as just funny and goofy, trying to make fun of it, but these kids, they put so much dedication into it athletically and they are brilliant students too,” said Fuller. “We just want recognition as student athletes, we want to show our banners, our trophies, our self-worth, it’s not just sideline.”

A key leader helping bring home trophies for the Bruins these last two years has been junior captain Isabella Carranco. The junior shared just how exciting it was to win back-to-back titles. 

“It was really nice, we had a lot of pressure to win again, that we put on ourselves,” acknowledged Carranco. “We worked really hard for it; it was well deserved. It felt amazing to get another championship.”

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