CWU cheer has a new sister duo as senior flier Livy Sander welcomed her little sister freshman back spot Cami Sander to the team. This is the first opportunity the Sander sisters get to cheer beside one another as big sister went to Bethel High School and little sister went to Graham-Kapwosin High School.
Because of this, this is something that the Sander sisters have been planning for a while now, “We knew that Cami was going to try out when I got on the team,” Livy Sander said. Cami Sander noted that she wanted at least one year cheering with her big sister.
The choice to come to Central wasn’t just about cheering together for the Sander sisters, as they both looked forward to both being enrolled together at the same school. “We knew that we would go to the same school because since elementary school, we haven’t gone to the same school. So, we wanted to go to the same school at least for one year,” Livy Sander said.
The sisters mentioned how it took other members of the cheer team a little time to catch on to the two sisters being related. They have even noticed that Coach Brook Wales puts them close enough together in formations so that the Sander family can get some pictures with both cheering together. “They are eating it up, they are loving it,” Livy Sander said.
After the way basketball season ended last year winning the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) tournament, Livy Sander said she is most excited for her sister to experience the environment of CWU basketball even if the tournament is not held on the home court this year.
While she is excited for basketball season Cami Sander brought up what she is most excited for in this season shared with her sister. “I’m really excited for nationals because I did nationals in high school, but I think this is going to be bigger because it is college nationals,” Cami Sander said.
Big sister said the moment it felt very surreal that she was out there with her built-in best friend was during their first home football game this season. She is always keeping an eye on her little sibling as well with Coach Wales calling her momma bear.
When it comes to cheering together the dynamic does not change too much once they are cheering. “I think we are definitely in the same friend group circle; she still feels like my big sister rather than my friend,” Cami Sander said.
This is not the first time there has been a sister duo on the CWU cheer team. As alumni Sierra and Isabelle Zahnow cheered together for Central with the younger sister Isabelle Zahnow graduating last year
“Not a lot of people get to experience being involved in the same sport and on the same team as their sibling, especially at the collegiate level.,” Isabelle Zahnhow said. ‘I’m so excited that Livy and Cami get to experience that together. Not a lot of people get to experience that together and have someone to always lean on and support you along the way.”
