The cheer team competed and placed third at the National Cheer Association (NCA) Nationals competition Jan. 23 in Fort Worth.
Due to incoming icy weather, the team made a plan to record their routine and submit it to compete virtually. However, an alternate schedule allowed them to travel to perform and return in one day safely.
“Our bond with the team has gotten stronger as we have gotten further in the year,” senior Brennan Herring said. “A bonded team trusts each other and that helps the performance because we all want to win for each other and we just want to have fun.”
Herring said she physically prepares herself for performing by warming up and keeping a positive attitude.
“I feel like I’ve gotten more confident with the team and just overall more trusting,” Herring said.
Herring mentally prepares herself for performances by listening to music with her friends and giving time to herself.
“The girls have done so much better at listening to corrections and overall being there for the team,” Herring said.
Herring said her favorite part of Nationals was performing since they weren’t going to be able to at first, she was very happy to be able to do her last warm up and last performance with her friends and the team.
“I’m so proud of our team and how far we have come, so I feel excited,” freshman Addison Almazan said. “When physically preparing myself to perform, I drink water before and eat like 2 hours before so that my mouth doesn’t get dry while performing and I don’t throw up.”
Almazan said the team is like sisters because they all love each other.
“We have gotten much closer so when we spirit on the mat we interact with each other more,” Almazan said.
Almazan said her facial expressions while performing have gotten better since the beginning of the year.
“My favorite part about Nationals was definitely before we went on the mat we were all talking and sharing our favorite memories from the season and it was very sweet,” Almazan said.
Sophomore Rylee McKittrick said she is proud of the team because seeing all the hard work they put in this season pay off is rewarding.
“I try to remind myself it’s the same routine we’ve been practicing just in front of a few more people,” McKittrick said. “Relaxing is the most important.”
McKittrick physically prepares herself for performances by working hard in the weeks prior to build up her endurance, so she doesn’t get tired while performing, and not overdoing it while in the warmup room.
“I think we are all very close,” McKittrick said. “It definitely helps when we are out on the mat doing partner spiriting and having fun performing. I think we looked a lot better once we started getting more comfortable.”
McKittrick said she overall has gotten more comfortable on the mat.
“It’s really easy to feel stupid doing different things, especially facials, but once I got over that, I had way more fun and started improving overall,” McKittrick said.
McKittrick said it felt like everyone wanted to place at Nationals, so they worked for it.
“Performing was definitely the best,” McKittrick said. “To be able to perform this year was a blessing in itself, but I think this performance was the most fun I’ve ever had on the mat.”
