They’ve got spirit, yes they do, and they’ve got spirit to share.

Poudre High School varsity cheerleaders Kayhla Carey and Allison Brinkhoff want to host a cheer day camp in Wellington (Colorado) this summer.

“Why not teach someone else something you love?” Allison asked.

Both teens have so enjoyed teaching young girls the basics during Poudre’s annual Junior Impala cheerleading camps, they want feedback on holding a local clinic. Those interested should call Allison at 219-9038 or Kayhla at 631-5424.

That both girls love being cheerleaders probably goes without saying, but what the general public might not realize is just how much work goes into the sport of cheerleading.

“The National Federation of State High School Associations recognizes cheerleading as a sport, and CHSAA (Colorado High School Activities Association) does, too,” said Marcie Powell, cheer coach for seven of her nine years as a PHS dance and physical education teacher. “Cheerleading has definitely changed. The athletic ability required for boys and girls is amazing.”

Coach Powell’s cheer squad is constantly practicing, and when they’re not at a game or fund raising, they’re lifting weights and working out.

On varsity this year are two guys and 12 girls. In addition to Kayhla and Allison, four more hail from Wellington: Ashlyn Hoopingarner, a junior; Brittany LeBlanc, a sophomore; and freshmen Brooke Gonzales and Samantha Suhr.

Powell called the Wellington girls’ dedication “uncommon.”

“They all live far away with no time to go home, so they sit in the halls, working and eating together,” she said. “I’m very glad to have all of them.”

Both Kayhla and Allison have improved immensely, she noted.

“Kayhla came in with no experience; next year she will be a four-year letterman,” Powell said. “Alli is first-year varsity from JV last year. She brings a lot of muscles.”

Powell said Kayhla earned the CSHAA Academic All-State designation for cheerleaders for posting a 3.6 GPA or higher.

A native of Conroe, Texas, Kayhla recalls watching the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders as a little girl and declaring: “One day I’m going to do that.” Regardless, a friend had to talk her into trying out for the Impala squad in ninth grade.

“She showed me stuff to do and I knew right away I loved it,” the 16-year-old recalled. “The night before, she backed out, but I figured I might as well go ahead and try out.”

Her father, Justin Carey, works in the heating and air conditioning industry. The family settled in Colorado when Kayhla was a second-grader.

At Wellington Junior High, Kayhla loved participating in Linda Anderson’s musical productions of “Big River” and “High School Musical.”

“When the choreographer was auditioning for cheerleaders, I told him I had cheer practice, so guess what I got cast as?” Kayhla said.

Kayhla’s brother, Justin Jr., 14, goes to Fossil Ridge High School. Their mother, Denise, is kitchen manager at Bethke Elementary School.

Allison’s mom, Tonya Brinkhoff, recently left Poudre School District Food Service to go back to school to study nursing.

“Mom was a lunch lady so she could be with us,” the Wellington native said. “It was Mom’s idea that my sister and I go to cheer camp when I was 6. She said she always wanted to be a cheerleader but was too shy.”

Allison’s sister, Josie, 19, attends Front Range Community College. Her dad, Jack, is a trustee on the Wellington Town Board. He works for Mountain States Pipe and Supply.

The boys at Eyestone who played football with this self-professed tomboy weren’t the only ones surprised their rough-and-tumble teammate preferred waving pom-poms on the sidelines.

“I never guessed I would be a cheerleader,” the 15-year-old exclaimed. “It was instant love. From that first open gym in junior high when the Poudre cheerleaders were recruiting, I loved it right away for the sport. It was very athletic with all the tumbling and lifting.”

Allison said two-a-day practices can be grueling — long, sweaty and emotional.

“There are times we are holding each other up — literally,” she said. “There is such an emotional attachment with the team.”

And trust is important, particularly on Kayhla’s behalf as a “flyer,” the person on top.

“I just try not to think about falls,” she said.

Or the short, short skirts.

“It was awkward at first, but it doesn’t bother me now,” Kayhla said. “I don’t like how movies depict cheerleaders as dumb, and all you do is stand around and yell.”

Neither does Allison appreciate the stereotyping.

“Some people hate me just because I’m a cheerleader, especially since I’m blonde,” she said and shrugged. “They think I’m stupid, or assume I’m promiscuous. I don’t let it affect me because I love cheerleading. Cheerleading is its own reward.”

Allison and Kayhla credited Powell for keeping everyone motivated.

“Our coach is the reason Poudre’s always a top cheer team,” Allison said. “She knows what will work and what won’t. She’s devoted; she goes to everything.”

Long gone are the days in which cheerleaders attend just boys’ football and basketball games. The Impalas also yell for boys’ soccer and wrestling teams, as well as girls’ volleyball and basketball.

Allison said it’s not unusual to be busy with cheer-related activities week nights, weekends and often throughout the summer.

“I get this from my dad: Busier is better for both of us,” she said. “Wrestling is my favorite, although football is obviously very fun, especially when there’s a good crowd. Wrestling’s a family sport. Dad used to wrestle.”

Kayhla concurs that cheering at football games is “an adrenaline rush.”

“It’s at night, you’re outside, and it’s really, really intense when the entire crowd gets into it,” she said. “It’s an honor being in front of people, having school spirit.”

As much as these cheerleaders enjoy games, both prefer competitions. Due to turnover in team personnel, Allison said PHS opted to sit out state competition this year.

Kayhla’s past experience helping at vacation Bible schools and her current job at the daycare at Fitness1 has her considering becoming a child psychologist. While Allison’s not sure what the future holds in the way of a career, she knows one thing: she wants to be a mom with a family.

Wellington’s rooting for its girls.