Studs help Sapphires throughout season

Sapphire studs are enchanted by the damsels of the team and pledge to be there until the end of time.

The Sapphire Studs of the 2013-2014 season are seniors Jake Walker, Nije Cooper, Brandon Welcher, Dustin Sanders and junior Matt Betts.

The idea of having a set of guards to accompany the drill team may not be an original idea of the Sapphires, but the first set of Sapphire Officers thought of the unique and creative name “Sapphire Studs”.

Each officer elects a Sapphire Stud at the beginning of the season based on “if the shoe fits”. When elected, the boys kneel down before the team and swear to be there for them “because they’re princesses,” junior Matt Betts said.

Overall their duties are to help the Sapphires with whatever they may need. The main quests they help out with are heavy lifting and setting up their stands. At halftime the studs are in charge of retrieving the officers’ batons, making sure the girls are protected and helping with props and shows.

“They rock and are a huge help, especially during football season,” Officer Ashlyn Welbrock said.

The Studs are involved in Friday night football games and other events too.

“We get to go with them to competition in San Antonio and to Nationals in Denton,” senior Dustin Sanders said.

Throughout all time the princesses and their studs build unity and live a fairytale of happily ever after.