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First Coast cheerleaders and band overcome rain with school spirit

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — About 10 minutes before kick-off at the Fletcher High School Senators’ game against the First Coast High School Buccaneers, heavy rain began to fall.

Members of the Fletcher band grabbed clear ponchos and parents pulled out umbrellas.

But the cheerleaders on both sides of the field smiled through the rain with no coverage.

The First Coast cheerleaders placed an order for rain gear, but the special outfits have not arrived yet, according to the cheerleading coach.

Shayla Hammatt, a 17-year-old senior, said although the rain was challenging, the cheer squad teamed up to work through it.

“At first it was difficult, but we kind of got used to it. We were in the rain and we just had to make it fun,” she said.

A 14-year-old freshman, Peyton Colon, said it was her first time ever cheering in the rain.

“At first people were, like, not happy about it but then we kind of got into it,” Colon said.

Hammatt said, “Even though it was a bad experience, it was an experience we will always remember.”

Even though the cheerleaders were not quite prepared, the parents were prepared with umbrellas and ponchos.

“They were calm,” Hammatt said. “I guess they were used to it, but we’re not.”

Hammatt even said a few parents chuckled at the cheerleaders.

“Everyone just put up their umbrellas and laughed at us,” she said with a smile.

For Colon, it took the band coming out to really overcome the rain blues.

“The band came out and we started to really get into it,” Colon said.