To be able to participate in both varsity cheerleading and women’s varsity basketball, Emily Brustman is finishing sideline cheer after football season so she can also play basketball. The remaining cheer team will cheer as Brustmas plays during basketball games.

Q: How long have you been cheering?

A: I’ve been cheering for around four months.

Q: What made you decide to try cheerleading?

A: I wanted to try something new and step out of my comfort zone senior year.

Q: How many years have you been playing basketball?

A:  I’ve been playing basketball since I was eight, so 10 years.

Q: What would you say is the biggest difference between cheer and basketball?

A: It’s so different, basketball is so aggressive. Also on the cheer team everything is new to me and I was learning along the way. While in basketball, I’m one of the leaders on my team.

Q: What would you say is the biggest similarity between cheer and basketball?

A: Relying on your teammates in both is really similar, along with the good friends you make.

Q: Which uniform do you prefer?

A: My cheer one is cuter, but my basketball one is tougher. I feel more confident in my basketball uniform.

Q: How does the team bonding aspect of cheer differ from basketball?

A: In cheer there are way more girls so getting to know all of them on a personal level is much more difficult than getting to know your 11 teammates for basketball, and if you don’t bond with your team for basketball it is obvious because winning games is more challenging.

Q: How did the two seasons overlap?

A: For a little I would go from cheer straight to basketball.

Q: What was the biggest struggle with handling both?

A: Trying to be there for everything and making both practices on time and all the conditioning for basketball was really hard.

Q: How many hours do you devote to cheer compared to basketball?

A: Cheer was like four hours of practice each week and a three hour game, and basketball is like 10-12 hours a week.

Q:  How different is the coaching aspect?

A: I mean not too different, both coaches just want the team to work hard and do their best. And both coaches are very supportive, but in basketball our coaches are a little more tough on us.

Q: After the season, what is your lasting impression of cheer ?

A: It was overall such a fun experience that I’m so glad I got to be a part of. I made some friends I’ll never forget.

Q: How has the transition been from cheer back to high school basketball?

A: It was fun to get back into something I’m more comfortable with, but it was sad leaving my new friends.