This past Saturday, November 9th, all three separate Green Level cheer teams, including Varsity traditional, Junior Varsity, and Varsity Game Day team, scored a bid to nationals in both an electric and thrilling win.
Early within the morning, Junior Varsity took stage in Dorton Arena amongst a treacherous preseason, consisting of 3 concussion injuries, as well as discourse of illness, strain, and tire.
Infused into the team’s routine, they completed a series of difficult tumbling passes, as well as a newly introduced introduction stunt in order to captivate the crowd early within the routine. Unique to their rendition, they performed an arduous pyramid. Making this skill difficult was the completion of a double high-to-high that was continuously proving to fail within practice.
Despite an array of hardships the young and talented team encountered throughout their preparation for Triangle Regionals, they executed the routine flawlessly, as denoted by their score sheet that showcased a hit. For individuals unaccustomed to the sport of cheer, this discerns that every stunt in the routine hit perfectly with no deductions.
Later in the afternoon, the Varsity Game Day team would adhere to the same success. Similar to JV, they hit perfectly while sustaining no deductions. Scoring a certain amount of points throughout your routine will allow for a bid to Nationals. Unique to the Game Day and traditional Varsity programs, this was the sole chance they would have to attain such a bid. Upon February they will travel to Orlando Florida, and gather with utmost cheerleading programs nationally!
After speaking to Junior Varsity captain Anika Singh, she considers, “I was definitely nervous but I think we practiced differently than we performed. I was excited to see what the team could do for the first time, and I was just anticipating that everything would hit because when you go into competition, it’s just a different feeling and everyone is on this adrenaline rush.”
Singh denotes the wave of excitement that accustoms the performance, signifying the electric feeling of hitting a stunt perfectly. She emphasizes the reward that stems from competing well, surrounded by teammates who continuously ground her throughout all aspects of life, athletics, and the classroom.
As discerned, the culture of this young team continues to fuel them throughout episodes of struggle, accomplishment, and hardships that adorn one’s life. Their chemistry assisted immensely in the results of Triangle Regionals.
When considering the future of this team she states, “It makes me really hopeful. We did really well in the first competition, and that just shows that, first of all we’re already solid and then we can only grow from this point on.”
The Senior JV Captain looks at this outcome as an opportunity to grow. There is both time to celebrate one’s successes, as well as the drive to continuously grow a team’s dynamic, skill, and practice. They will compete once more within December, making necessary adjustments to continue flourishing their program.
