Athletes Rally Together for Color Wars Spirit Day

The Try Out Process

With a new year coming soon, many cheerleaders are stressing about the next step: tryouts.  Tryouts usually take place over a period of a few days.  During this time, athletes will be evaluated on numerous grounds.  Things taken into consideration will be jumps, tumbling, dancing, and stunting.  In order to prepare for this, some athletes spend hundreds of dollars.
While High School and All Star tryouts are one thing, college tryouts are totally different.  Appearance is taken into consideration.  They are looking for the entire package, from the look to the skills.  One of my friends who is trying out for her college's team next weekend has spent the last month dieting and tanning just to keep herself in good standing with the school.
Regardless of your placement on the team, the most important aspect of tryouts is to work hard and be yourself.  If you pretend to be something you are not it will shine through and will reflect you poorly on your scoresheet!

Senior Speech

Being a graduating senior, we are required to deliver a speech at the banquet, which is tonight. Below I have attached a copy of mine.

How can I speak for a minute about a program that has been my whole life for the past three years? There are no words to say that portray how thankful I am to have a home away from home. There is no combination of words I could put together that would convey how grateful I am to have made lifelong friends here.
When I joined Northern Elite, the support group I gained was almost immediate. I can honestly say that the five seniors with me tonight are my best friends. We talk every single day. Even though in the Fall we will be in six different states, I know that we will always remain close. We all ended up at Northern Elite for different reasons. I wouldn't have wanted to end up with anyone else.
More than just the other seniors have been like family to me. Mrs. Cacchione, thank you for believing in us when we starting losing faith in ourselves. Brittany, thank you for working with us throughout the season and fine tuning our routine to make us the best we could be on the mat. Michelle, thank you for making us laugh along the way and for always reminding us why we love cheerleading in the first place. And Antoine, thank you for making us into the team that we always dreamed of being.
To the girls who will be continuing on cheerleading next year, I am so proud to have been on your team. You have inspired all of us and have made my senior year unforgettable, and for that, I thank you all.
And last but not least, I'd like to thank my parents. Every step of the way, you have supported me. I'm going to miss all the trips we took and all the hours we spent talking on the long car rides. At each and every competition, I was able to look to the crowd and see one of you giving me a thumbs up before the routine started.  You always have my back in everything I do. I don't say it enough, but I am so lucky to be your kid. I love you.
There is nothing I could ever do to repay everyone for all that they have given me. Northern Elite has been more than a gym to me, and this team has been more than an after school activity.  This gym has shaped me into who I am today, someone I can be proud of, someone I hope you all are proud of as well. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for me.

Graduating Seniors 2014

Nationals Showcase 2014

                On Wednesday, March 26, 2014, family and friends filed into the Northern Elite cheerleading gym.  On the floor in front were the athletes, dressed in full uniform and ready to put on a show.  It is the 2014 showcase performance.  Four teams performed in preparation for the two day national performance the coming weekend. 

                First up was the Junior 2 team: Fire.  They had been having a rough couple of weeks, with stunts looking sloppy and insecure at practice.  However, when they came onto the mat, everything seemed to come together.  Ray’s full up didn't completely hit.  Asides from that, the routine was perfect.  When it came for the second time for them to do their routine, they hit! The crowd went wild.

                Next, the Embers performed.  They are a mini team, which means that all of the girls are under the age of five.  The audience was all smiles as they did their routines.

                The youth team, Fusion, took the mat when the Embers were finished.  The flyers stole the show with their flexibility and facials in the air.  On their second performance, there were some technical errors.  However, their first performance was flawless.

                The Senior 3 team, Reaction, closed the show.  While there was one fall in the first routine, the audience was on their feet after the powerful second routine hit solid. 

                All four teams are clearly ready for competition and to do their best to get the gold at the Battle at the Capitol in Washington, DC.

Celebrating Senior year and saying goodbye

                With the year coming to a close, I am saddened to say that one of my first ‘lasts’ is coming soon.  As a senior who will not be cheering next year, it will soon be time for me to say goodbye to something that has been a huge part of my life for so long.  

                It’s bittersweet to me.  On one hand, without the long practice hours, I will finally be able to spend more time with the people I love before I leave.  On the other hand, though, so many of the people I love are at my gym.  It has almost become a part of my identity.  I am at the gym every single day except for Sundays.  I feel like without that, I will be lost.

                I know it’s time for me to move on, but a part of me does not want to let go.  I want another year, more time with the people who are a second family to me.  However, like all families, I know we will stay together no matter what.  I truly believe that I will stay connected to the other four seniors for the rest of my life.  We have so much history together.

                When looking back at my three years, I know that I have done so much to be proud of and that it is time for me to move on.  Although my time at the gym will soon be a memory, it will always be a great one.

The girls of the Senior team don pink for a Valentine's day themed practice!