By Katherine Ross
Sports Editor

Stressing, clapping, crying, panting, and laughing are common occurrences at cheerleading competitions. For the first time since the school opened, First Flight was not represented on the big, blue mat this year, but some students continued competing.

After a difficult season last year with eight of the 19 original cheerleaders quitting or getting injured, there was just not enough interest this year.

“As a coach of competitive cheerleading, I have experienced some incredible highs and lows. Competitive cheerleading includes cheering, dancing, stunting, and tumbling and requires enormous time, effort, and monetary commitment,” said Caroline Pearce, former competition cheer coach and current assistant principal. “The season starts in October with a rigorous training camp and usually ends in mid-March. The potential for serious injury is ever-present and dictates complete focus and dedication. When a two-and-a-half minute performance is ‘spot on,’ the euphoria is inexplicable.”

Pearce said only five girls from the football cheer squad expressed an interest in competition cheerleading this year.

“Last year we had a great team but a lot of people quit. It really hurt our team and our chances of doing well at competitions,” said senior Gretchen Hess, a former competition cheerleader. “Only a couple girls wanted to do competition and you need at least 10 to have a team. Last year was so hard on everyone, no one wanted to be a part of the team again.”

Many cheerleaders said they missed competing for the school this year.

“I really miss it because I miss cheerleading year round. It was my life and it took my mind off of things and even made me do better in school,” former competition cheerleader Mikaila Ossman said. “I really miss my team and how close we all got to each other during the season the most. I miss Mrs. Pearce being my coach and everything about cheerleading.”

Others chose to enjoy the time off from the stress of the school sport.

“I don’t miss competition cheerleading because it was very time-consuming and now I can use that time to spend studying or being with friends and family,” said junior Taylor Williams, a former competition cheerleader.

Opinions differ about the lack of a school competition team but some girls chose to continue their competition careers simply in different uniforms. Two local cheer gyms, Island Star and East Coast Allstars, have opened to give local cheerleaders the opportunity to improve and showcase their skills at competitions. Island Star competes as a Level 3 team and East Coast competes as Level 2.

Levels are based on difficulty of stunts and tumbling and range from Level 1 to Level 6.

“It’s a lot of dedication when you have to practice week after week. You have to dedicate all your time and sometimes even give up things you want to do,” said freshman Zoe Murden, an Island Star cheerleader. “My favorite part is working together and working on skills to get better and get to a higher level.”

Sophomores Megan Forbis, Shelby Klotz, Cassidy McNeill, Erin Hunt and freshmen Abby Swain and Jazmine Knieper also continue to cheer competitively for Fame, a gym located in Virginia Beach, Va. All six students cheer on a Level 4 team called the Fame Vixens and travel nationally for competitions throughout the year.

The team took first place in their division at a competition at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. They also placed seventh in their division at the National Cheerleading & Dance Championship in Atlanta, GA and fifth at the UCA/UDA International All Star Championship held at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.

According to CHEERSPORT, the host of the Atlanta championship, this event is the largest national cheerleading and dance competition in the world with over 900 teams competing.

“My favorite part of cheering at Fame is traveling to big competitions like Atlanta and Orlando and being able to cheer with all my best friends again,” Klotz said.

This elite team has put a lot of time and dedication into their success.

“Cheering at Fame is really great, and I love being a part of it. But the only negative side to it is the two-hour drive there and the two-hour drive back,” Forbis said. “It’s a huge commitment for us and our parents to do that so often.”

Thes girls that cheer for Fame make that drive two to three days a week for practices plus travel many hours for weekend-long competitions that take place all over the country. Still, they claim that the rewards of both cheerleading and competitions are worth the immense dedication of giving up free time with friends and family.

“I love the adrenaline rush from being on stage and having those two-and-a-half minutes to do the routine perfect and you only have one chance,” McNeill said. “Nothing is better than the feeling of leaving as a champion.”

Send comments to rosska0912@daretolearn.org