12 Questions with Laura – Black Wings Cheerleader
Cheerleading is far more than sideline atmosphere. Laura, head coach of the Black Wings Cheerleader at the Munich Ravens, gives a strong look behind the scenes.
Cheerleading is passion, hard work, team spirit and a huge part of gameday culture. The Black Wings Cheerleader show how much energy, preparation and heart goes into every performance.
How did you first get into cheerleading?
I had always danced and had also worked as a dance teacher and choreographer. At some point I wanted a new challenge. That is how I found cheerleading — and I loved it from day one.
What still fascinates you most about cheerleading today?
The energy is very different from other sports. In stunting, when pyramids are built, the whole team has to trust each other completely. That team feeling is something I have never experienced anywhere else. In dance, it is the passion that carries every step.
How did you become head coach of the Black Wings Cheerleader at the Munich Ravens?
I more or less stumbled into the Munich Ravens. In my first season with the Ravens I supported the Flames Allstars and introduced them to the world of sideline cheerleading. After the season, the desire for our own sideline team became stronger and stronger. That was how the Black Wings were born.
What makes your team special in your view?
I have never seen a team like ours. Everyone says it, but we really are a family. Whether it is laughter at practice or private dance sessions in the garden, every cheer shares the same passion.
What does preparation for a gameday look like for you?
Every gameday is different and special. Our preparation starts on the Friday before, when we go through all dances and formations. By now this practice has its own ritual: everything has to go wrong first so that gameday can go even better. On gameday we meet about five hours before kickoff, go onto the field and run everything again. Then comes get-ready with uniform and make-up. In the locker room we turn up the music, sing and dance together — and we take exactly that energy to the gate.
What do fans often not see about your work?
Many people are surprised when they hear how often and how hard we train. We practice three times a week for two and a half hours. Every session includes warm-up, stretching, choreography and finally conditioning or a strength circuit.
How important are discipline, team spirit and trust in cheerleading?
You can always see on the sideline when a team does not hold together or trust each other. The cheers have to trust us coaches to prepare them properly for the season, and we have to trust that they share the same goals and train accordingly. Without discipline nothing works. A gameday lasts eight or nine hours for us without long breaks, so you have to be fit.
What does it mean to be part of the Munich Ravens family?
It is a special feeling to be part of a big family. Especially on gameday we feel that we all have the same goal and the same love for the sport. It is the small things: conversations with players, coordination with the office or high-fives after a win. In those moments we feel like one big family.
What are you most looking forward to at the first home game of the new season?
The anticipation for the season has grown since the beginning of the year. The first home game always has a special atmosphere, and this year it is even in a different stadium. Most of all we are looking forward to the fans. Standing ovations when our defense is on the field gave everyone goosebumps. We want to experience that feeling again.
What role do cheerleaders play for the atmosphere in the stadium?
The idea that cheerleading is only a pretty accessory on the sideline is long outdated. We are there to animate the fans and keep the energy high between plays. Cheerleading and football always go hand in hand.
What do you wish for the future of the Black Wings Cheerleader and cheerleading in European football?
I hope the Black Wings continue to grow and that one day we can fill all sidelines in the stadium. We want to make every game a special experience for the fans. This year we are laying the first stone to connect all cheer teams in the league: we will be guests at Frankfurt Galaxy and of course welcome their cheerleaders as well.
What message would you like to send to all fans, especially the Ravens Crowd?
The Munich Ravens fans are incredible — you cannot top that. So I only want to say: stay as loud as you are. Make so much noise that we can no longer hear the music. Together we will fill this season with very special memories.
A huge thank-you to Laura for taking the time to answer our 12 questions so openly and in such detail. We look forward to the new season, strong gamedays and many special sideline moments with the Black Wings.