The high school football season has begun on campuses throughout the San Gabriel Valley, which brings up all sorts of memories for students and parents alike. One local resident who overlaps this magical experience is Cheryl Freiburg, whose daughter, Ava, tried out for and made the San Marino High School cheer squad, which was a part of in 1996.
Her name was Cabigas back then but the spirit, enthusiasm and smile are still common to both mother and daughter. Cheryl Cabigas attended San Marino High School from 1993-1997. She was a member of the junior varsity yell squad from 1994-1995 and was captain of the varsity yell team from 1996-1997.
“That was back in the day when you were allowed to be on junior varsity your sophomore year and varsity your senior year,” said Cabigas/Freiburg. “I wish I could have done cheer for all four years.” If she adds Ava’s experience to her own, she might eventually get there.
Ava is fitting right in to the cheer uniform.
“Making the SMHS cheer team was a big deal for me,” said Ava. “Because I really enjoyed my experience as a Huntington Middle School cheerleader. I wanted the opportunity to support and cheer on my school and be a part of this team.”
Like a dad who can toss the football around with his son, Freiburg has actually helped Ava with the cheers, which have remained somewhat constant over the years.
“The choreography is a little different but some of the cheers are the same,” she tells us. “Ava will practice in front of me sometimes and I’ll let her know what she needs to to work on, but for the most part it’s all on her.”
Cheryl attended USC, where she met her husband (Ava’s father, John Freiburg.) She didn’t cheer at college, but remains a huge supporter, much like she still backs her Mighty Titans.
Ava has a younger sister, Izzie, who is an accomplished soccer player and is in the 7th grade at Huntington Middle School.
There is no word yet as to whether or not she will follow her mother and older sister into cheer.
“I think she would like it, but she has very little free time,” Cheryl said. “She is all soccer, all the time. I doubt she’ll ever try out – unless the uniforms included cleats and cheer became a full contact sport,” Cheryl joked.
This season promises to be a memorable one for this family.
Let’s go Titans!
Kneeling row (left to right) is JV cheer: Ava Freiburg, Claire Lee, Chloe Khalilir, Azalea Avila, Isabel Li, Monica Wong, Hana Iptchilar, & Cami Penn.
