By Gabryela Reynoso

Jan. 27, 2022

SAN JOSE, CALIF. –– As the recent Covid-19 omicron variant becomes more prevalent in California, the Silver Creek competition cheerleaders are faced with the repercussions. 

As of a few days ago, it was announced that the Silver Creek competition cheer team will unfortunately be unable to compete in Nationals, an event taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, due to Covid-19 restrictions enforced by the district. 

This news comes as a shock to the team because prior to a few days ago, many were under the impression that they would be able to attend Nationals, an event Silver Creek hasn’t been able to take part in since 2020 due to Covid-19 suspending competition cheer for the season. “We’ve been practicing all these months – working, conditioning extremely hard – and it gets taken away with just a snap of a finger,” said Joy Trim, a captain of the cheer team. 

In need of a return to normalcy, the team opposed the district’s restrictions by drawing attention to the many other Bay Area schools that were set to attend the event. However due to the advances in the spread of the omicron variant, it was revealed that those schools have now been told that their trips are to be terminated as well. In other words no schools in the Bay Area will be able to compete due to the restrictions in interstate travel for schools. “I don’t know when it’s going to get better,” says Tammy Dhanota, a parent of a fellow competition cheerleader. “Seems like every time we open the door, five more doors close.” 

Overall, attending Nationals was something special the competition cheerleaders had been looking forward to since December, desperately trying to replicate pre-Covid-19 times especially for graduating seniors that are now in their last year of high school cheer. “I don’t blame the district,” said Trim. “I just wish we personally had a heads up.”

Silver Creek High School later presented a follow-up comment on the situation stating: “After consideration of student and staff safety issues, […] the District is not approving out-of-state or overnight school-based field trips or competitions at this time. Currently, not all students are vaccinated, fully vaccinated or have received booster shots. The District is taking this precaution, however, for the safety of our students and community and to help us keep our schools open at a time when many other districts are facing increased staffing shortages and student absences.” As for when the district plans to return to normal conduct, they concluded in their statement that the time will come when Covid-19 “conditions improve and are safe.”