Lil’ Devils Cheer Camp Hosted by Hinsdale Central Central Varsity Team

Each year, the  varsity cheerleaders hold their annual Lil’ Devils Cheer Clinic. It is a dream come true for little girls in the area, where they learn to cheer and stunt like the big kids. The clinic was held Saturday at Hinsdale Central High School for future cheerleaders ages 5 to 12.

The camp has been going on for more than 10 years, and approximately 100 to 120 girls participate on average. All of the varsity, junior varsity and freshman cheerleaders are required to work the clinic, which adds another 65 girls and boys to the overall head count.

The Lil’ Devils Cheer Clinic not only starts little girls on the path to cheerleading, but acts as a fundraiser for the cheer program. Money raised will go towards seasonal expenses like signs and extra uniforms. In addition to raising funds for the season, parent volunteers are needed, as well. This year, five cheer moms were on-hand to help check in cheerleaders and to serve lunch. (Coach Bianca Lopez will have information on parent volunteers for future events as well.)

The clinic is divided into two main groups: kids in kindergarten through fifth grade get an introduction to cheerleading. They learn basic stunting and tumbling skills, along with cheer and dance. The sixth- through eighth-grade participants receive intensive still training on cheerleading, stunting, and tumbling. Proper technique, terms and jumps are emphasized to help all participants develop their skills.

When asked what advice she’d give little girls who participate in the camp, varsity cheer coach Kristen Bronke said, “Get some sleep and be ready to have fun. It’s a good chance to see our high school cheerleaders in action.”

Varsity cheerleaders Molly Pfisterer, Catherine Broton, and Payton Renner have cheered together since seventh grade, when they were on the Hinsdale Falcons. Pfisterer was at Saturday's clinic.

“Each Little Devil was cuter than the next and it was amazing to see their enthusiasm," Pfisterer said. "They were basically jumping into the stunts wanting us to put them higher and higher.”

When asked about her own experience as a Lil’ Devil years ago, Pfisterer said, “I’ve grown up doing cheerleading, and it all started with the Lil’ Devils clinics seeing all the high school cheerleaders. I remember feeling so cool that I got to hang out with the cheerleaders all day.”

Elle Fuller was another junior coach at the clinic.

“I love working the little kids, and watching their excited expressions when you teach them a new skill," she said. "It’s a great experience to carry on the tradition of Hinsdale Central cheerleaders.”

Junior coach Gretta Richter added, “I love working with the little kids, and bringing the shy ones out of their shells. It’s so fun to put the little girls up in stunts and watch their faces brighten up with a big smile. One of the girls said to me that she wishes she could stay forever so she could be a cheerleader all her life. It was so cute.”

An exciting bonus this year is that all participants are invited to be a part of the Hinsdale Central varsity football Red/White scrimmage game in August. During the scrimmage, the sixth, seventh and eighth graders will cheer a portion of the game alongside the varsity squad, and the younger group will perform a halftime routine.

The cost of the clinic was $35, and included a T-shirt. To get information on next year’s clinic, email Coach Bianca Lopez at blopez@hinsdale86.org.