Squad has something to cheer about

"Their jaws dropped to the floor when she told them her expectations," said Ramirez, who retired Friday after four years as an assistant principal at the East Side school.

Good grades, regular and rigorous exercise and a commitment to the squad were among her top demands.

"I was delighted," said Ramirez. "She didn't want to hear any excuses."

A high turnover rate among coaches is a challenge for cheering squads, Ramirez said, and she was hoping Baxter would stay and inspire the girls.

She did, and she has.

Not only has the squad become "like a big family," according to both Baxter and the cheerleaders, but last year the cheerleaders were one point away from competing in the state championships for the first time.

"What I really appreciated was her poise," Ramirez said of Baxter's first months with the school more than a year ago. "She was professional, and she was knowledgeable."

This year, a pompom squad has been added to the cheerleading group.

In all, about 35 girls are involved with the two groups as well as seven assistant coaches. There are two men coaching the squads, including Baxter's husband, David, who helps mostly with physical fitness and, as a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant, with teaching the importance of discipline.

"My philosophy, and I alwaystell them this, all the time, is that we're family," said Sam Baxter, 32, who is an accomplished dancer and former cheerleader.

Naomi Henderson, 17, will be a senior this year and a third-year cheerleader.

Baxter "just basically makes it all fit," Henderson said. "We have to act like ladies, and that's important."

Henderson said she's always taken her grades seriously, but said Baxter "gives you that extra push when you start to feel like things are getting hard."

"She helps you put all your goals in perspective, basically," she said.

Ramirez, 56, said they'd had many wonderful and dedicated coaches over the years, but Baxter stands out because she is so focused on discipline and in helping the girls succeed as students and athletes.

"She believes in communication. She wants a dialogue between them constantly," she said.

Baxter said she encourages all of her girls to attend college and to try for scholarships. One teen last year was reconsidering college because of family challenges, but Baxter convinced her she could handle both.

"I told her, 'You can do anything. All you have to do is put your mind to it,' " she said.

Academics are the number one priority, and D's are not acceptable for members of Baxter's squads. Baxter assured the girls she would help them with their schoolwork, but that she would not tolerate excuses.

Some girls have dropped out, she said, but most meet the challenge. Baxter said her greatest reward is in seeing the girls succeed.

"Nothing in the world will stop me from loving my girls and doing what I can to help them," she said.

Misty Shaw's 15-year-old daughter, Alissa, joined the team this year. Shaw, an accomplished athlete, was skeptical about cheerleading for her daughter. She thought of it as a popularity contest with little real athletic value, but said she has now started to rethink her ideas.

"I'm so impressed with the athleticism and professionalism of the coaches and the young ladies on this team," said Shaw, 36.

Sometimes the girls run several miles during practice, she said, and there are a lot of body conditioning and strengthening exercises.

Xochitl Segura was a cheerleader last year with Baxter. She graduated in May with a 4.0 grade-point average and is now taking classes at Pima Community College. She plans to transfer to the University of Arizona to study civil engineering or aerospace engineering.

"They always pushed me to do my best in school," said Segura, 18, of her squad and coaches. "I still keep in touch with her (Baxter). She such an amazing person."

Ramirez said she's happy to be leaving the squads in Baxter's care.

"I'm telling you, I'm so proud of our squad," she said. "When I first saw them, their first performance, well, they are a precision machine. They are disciplined."

This spring, twice as many girls came out for tryouts as last year. Ramirez attributes that to Baxter.

"It's about discipline, and it's about caring," she said. "They have become a great family and a proud family."

East Side

You can help

The Palo Verde High School cheerleading squad needs help to send some of its members to cheerleading camp in mid-July at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Several girls cannot afford to go because of family hardships. Any company or individual interested in sponsoring a teen can reach coach Sam Baxter at sbaxter5@cox.net or 609-0250.