There is nothing quite like a group of students who come together, filled to the brim with school spirit and joy. After a 41-year intermission, the Academy community is thrilled to be welcoming back its cheerleaders! The cheer team formed last year, just in time to cheer for the basketball season. Isabella ‘25 and Miel ‘25, two graduated seniors, asked Ms. Puente to reinstate the cheer team. Now, the team has around 50 students and three highly trained coaches.

Head cheer coach Kristen Kiburz has a vision for the team to raise Academy spirit. She wants her cheerleaders to increase pride in Albuquerque Academy, while simultaneously making sure that the school doesn’t come off as arrogant or cocky. Coach Kibruz stated that she is incredibly impressed with her cheerleaders, as 95% of them have had no prior cheer experience. Their dedication and determination are what allows them to perform intermediate level stunts, like two-legged extensions or cradles. “They’re novice, but they don’t look novice,” she reflected.

The cheer team is slowly growing more of a presence in the Academy Community. This is their first time cheering during a football season, as they were only cheering for winter sports last year. They held a halftime performance for the first time since being reinstated at the Under the Lights Football Game on September 5th. They also performed at the school pep rally on September 19th. Cheerleaders could be seen on homecoming weekend, walking around, interacting with kids, and spreading school spirit everywhere they turned.

Evie ’26 describes the team as cheerful, engaging, and fun. These words seemed to be echoed throughout all my conversations with members of the cheer team. Evie expresses that after having played on almost every sports team at Academy, she feels that this team is incredibly special as it is connected and happy.

Most cheerleaders express their love for the team. They all have different things they love to do, from stunting to just engaging with the school community. However, every cheerleader describes the team as a family. They all told me that Coach Kiburz along with the two assistant coaches Lauren and Max are adult figures in their life, inspiring them on a daily basis. This cheer team may have started out as an idea in two Seniors’ heads last winter, but now it is a real community.

This community recently experienced a devastating loss. Parker ‘26 sadly passed away on September 18th. Parker was known for her sense of independence, determination, and she was an inspiration to others. She was an important member of the team who was always lifting others up and engaging in the determination that Coach Kiburz has grown to love in her cheerleaders. Her loss was felt deeply by the entire Academy community.

The cheerleaders are the inspiring pillars of our community, whose goal is to build up the Academy’s pride and sense of family. We all can do our part to increase spirit in our community. Both the cheerleaders and Coach Kiburz told me that they plan on teaching students some cheers and chants to encourage sports teams at games. The cheer team wants to have a loud presence at games, and they want the student body to help accomplish this. Let’s help them reach their goal by continuing to support them in their efforts. Next time you go to a football game, keep your eye out for the Academy’s new and improved cheerleaders!