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!

The Importance of Team Spirit

                In a sport like cheerleading, people often get ‘burnt out’.  They get exhausted from the long practices, demanding physical activity, and the hours of commitment.  Because of this, it is important to keep team morale up by doing fun activities to boost spirit.

                In the past, we have had team bonding parties before a big practice or competition.  We would get pizza or salad and sit around in a circle and play games.  Not only did it ease our nerves, but it reminded us of why we do the sport.  Like any other sports, a major component is the people you surround yourself with. 

                If I didn’t have my team, I definitely would not be doing cheerleading today.  As time went on, the fourteen girls I was with became my family.  They are there to lift me up when I’m upset or take me down a few pegs when it’s necessary.  I feel an obligation to them, as a captain, to make their experience fun as well.

                One thing we have been doing this year is ‘themed practices’.  We wore all pink for Valentine’s Day, and holiday outfits near Christmas time.  With our National competition being in Washington DC, we are having an All American themed practice with red white and blue attire.

                Although it may seem like a small thing, the themed practices really boost morale and make people happier to be at practice.  We take silly pictures and laugh with each other, and most importantly, we realize what is important about cheerleading; having fun and being with each other.

Nationals

               This weekend our team will be traveling to Washington DC in order to compete at the biggest competition of the year: Nationals.  We have worked tirelessly all year for this one competition.  How we perform in DC determines the success of our season, and is something all of us have been nervously excited for since day one.

                Nationals is a two day competition.  The first day’s score is worth 20 percent of the overall score, while the second day is worth 80.  The competition is spread to two days to ensure that the winner truly deserve it.  You can’t just go out there and get lucky.  No, a team must be consistently flawless both days.  They have to hit.

                “Hitting” is a term used in cheerleading referencing the elusive ‘perfect routine’.  If one person touches down in tumbling or bobbles in a stunt, the routine no longer counts as perfect.   Some may say one mistake isn’t a big deal.  However, competition is so tight and intense that one mistake often makes all of the difference.

                When I was a sophomore, we were in the lead after day one.  At day two, we hit a perfect routine…except for one tumbling touchdown.  A tumbling touchdown is a deduction of .05.  We lost and came in second by .03.  Everything makes a difference, making this an extremely high pressure situation.

                Something to remember, however, is that this is all for fun.  While the pressure is real, Nationals is a three day period for the team to get together and enjoy each other.  For me, it will be my last time.  It is a time for team bonding, as the team sticks together for good or bad.  This mini vacation from the pressures of school and everyday life is something I look forward to fervently each year.