Filled with new faces, Oakville’s varsity cheerleaders have started the season with their annual fundraising efforts.

For the fourth year in a row, the cheerleaders were given the chance to perform at Busch Stadium on Sept. 10. The 16 varsity girls entertained Cardinal fans in Ford Plaza with their routine before the game.

All proceeds received from the performance go to buying new uniforms for the team, says head coach Becky Bruning. With new pieces costing $250 each, the Oakville cheerleading program uses fundraising opportunities like the Cardinals game to cover the costs.

“I think the performance went really well,” says first-year varsity cheerleader Vicky Riordan (10).

Riordan is not the only new face on the team; the varsity squad gained four more sophomores this year, making a total of seven underclassmen on the team. It’s been more work, says Riordan, but it is a lot of fun as well.

Coach Bruning says the newcomers have made great improvements from the start of the season. “They’ve been working really hard,” she said. “It shows.”

Varsity veteran Hannah Jones (12) also thinks that the sophomores “fit in really well” with the rest of the team. According to Jones, “All of the team wants to be there.” It is that passion that she thinks will make her last year on the team the most memorable.

The cheerleaders will continue working hard as they prepare for the upcoming Homecoming and Pink-Out games. Students can support the team by buying Pink-Out shirts from any cheerleader or by getting a form from the office.