When you see the Pacesetters walk onto the field, you might think their job is easy. They walk on with their big smiles and bright energy, but the hours behind the scenes often go unnoticed. From Monday morning practice to football games on Friday, the Pacesetters spend their time making sure to be the best they can for everybody to watch.

To start every morning, the Pacesetters get to practice by 7:30am. They are either practicing a dance for an upcoming performance, like a football game or pep rally, or learning a new dance. On top of being on time, a Pacesetter needs to make sure they are wearing the correct thing to rehearsals and have everything they need for the day. On a game day, this would mean wearing the right thing in the morning, bringing clothes for school, then having every part of their uniform for the game.

On top of just morning practices, there are long Saturday practices, team dinners on Thursdays, and football games on Friday nights. Even with everything going on, however, the Pacesetters still have time to do what they care about. Some of them spend their free time working, some with family and friends, and some just focus on enjoying and thriving in high school.

“It takes up a lot of time, but I like that we have it just in the mornings, so that I have after school to myself. I do have time for other stuff, like I have a job… but there are a lot of obligations that you have,” said squad leader Ansley Hillin (11).

“Pacesetters does take up a lot of time, and there’s a lot of people and social events. It’s definitely, definitely possible to do other things though… This year I have a job and I also just like to hang out with people after school,” said Lieutenant Madeline Aldrich (11).

Both Aldrich and Hillin also talk about how, while they enjoy what they do, there are still hard moments.

Part of leadership means giving out demerits to her team members, which isn’t an easy thing to do. A team member getting 8 demerits means that she has to sit out of a performance.

“It’s hard because I feel like sometimes I’m being the bad guy on the team, but it’s my job,” said Hillin.

“There are definitely hard moments on pacesetters, just like, in the heart of competition season when we’re grinding every single day and we just have to have those longer practices on Saturdays, like for show-offs, and stuff like that,” said Aldrich.

Pacesetters have learned that it’s not always easy, but putting in the work to be better is always worth it. They continue doing everything they do out of love for dancing and performing, and they are happy to be part of such a special team.