The cheer team has begun its competition season with three main competitions already checked off. Those included a Game Day invitational at Lago Vista, a competition in Grapevine and UIL State in Fort Worth. This weekend marks the final competition of the season, which was planned as a two-day competition in Fort Worth. However, due to a winter storm watch across Texas, the cheerleaders will record their routine tomorrow and submit it.
“We began preparing for this competition season at the end of August, so this team has been working on perfecting the routine for several months,” cheer coach Brynn Huner said. “We attend multiple smaller competitions to receive judges’ feedback and make improvements leading up to our major competitions—UIL State and NCA Nationals.”
Competition practices are usually a minimum of four times a week, starting at 5:30 a.m.
“Practices focus on running sections of the routine, making corrections and ‘cleans,’ and practicing full-out performances,” Huner said. “We also rehearse what a competition day looks like so the team is fully prepared and confident.”
During competitions, the team performs a band chant, a situational game-day cue response, which would be either cheering for the offense or defense, a crowd-leading section and a fight song.
“Currently, we have 21 cheerleaders competing on the mat,” Huner said. “We also have the privilege of including three LHS students who have dedicated their time to serve as flag runners for our routine at UIL.”
Senior Brennan Herring said she feels the closeness of her teammates during her final competition season.
“I feel like the team is definitely more bonded during comp. because at that point in the year, we have been through so much together and have been together for so long,” Herring said. “We have team bondings, and honestly, just being at practice and games together for so long, we just get close from talking and joking around.”
Herring said that although the State competition didn’t go as planned, she understands the importance of growth on the mat.
“I feel like we can get better in certain aspects, but with all the hardships we have faced going into these past two years, I feel like we are doing really good,” Herring said.
Herring said that while competition season is more intense and repetitive because it’s the same routine, it is still a positive experience.
“I have loved being on the mat and getting to experience the fun of performing,” Herring said.
With many seniors on the team graduating, it is going to be up to the younger cheerleaders to continue to compete at their best in the future.
“This year, the majority of our competition team is made up of younger athletes, so teaching them what to expect at competitions and what judges look for has been a big focus,” Huner said. “These girls have consistently shown a willingness to learn and put in the work, which has made the process incredibly rewarding.”
Huner is ready to see what the team is capable of at this final competition of the season.
“I am extremely proud of this team and the effort they have put into this competition season,” Huner said.
