The Wareham High School cheerleaders have been perfecting their stunts, sharpening their dance routines, and remembering to always smile. This Sunday, the Viking squad will be performing at the South Coast Conference cheerleading competition at Dighton-Rehoboth High School.

The cheerleaders are under the new leadership of Ashleigh Salerno. A 2001 graduate of the High School, Salerno captained her squad as a senior. She now teaches English at the high school, as well as a Greco-Roman and Norse mythology course.

The squad will face stiff competition this weekend against Fairhaven which has historically performed well at cheerleading competitions. However, some changes this year might play to the Vikings’ advantage. The conference competition will focus less on cheers and more on two-and-a-half minute dance routines, gymnastics, and stunting.

The Wareham includes a male this year. Senior Marcus Bennit's presence on the cheering roster puts the squad in a co-ed division,.

Bennit says he think it's cool that he’s the only guy on the squad.

“They say that a lot of men who do cheering in high school get a lot of scholarships to college,” he said.