On Monday, November 16, the varsity and JV competition cheer teams performed in Wildcat 1 to showcase their routines to their families and other members of the cheer program. 

This was their second performance of the year, which was the Mid America Extreme Challenge, the first being at the Millard North Showcase the week before. 

For the varsity team, this was their first competition competing in the Game Day division and the Tumbling, Non-Building division. JV also participated in a Non-Building division but against other JV teams. 

“The showcases are another opportunity for us to perform in front of other people and go full out,” senior Delaney Cutler said. “This way we can see where we are and what we need to work on and improve.” 

Because of COVID, most of their competitions have been moved to be completely virtual. 

“For the virtual competition process, we had a small window of four days to film and upload our routines,” head coach Stefani Lane said. “The judges will view all videos submitted, then a virtual awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 22. 

With this competition being virtual and judged through videos, this allows the teams to record their full out routines multiple times to submit their best one for the best chance of receiving their Nationals bid and overall placement. 

“The energy at an actual competition is completely different,” senior Brynn Vanis said. “The roaring crowd is no longer there to support and yell along with you. With these virtual competitions, we are able to still have family yell with us which does help overall. This way, we can send in a routine that we are proud of, and we have another chance to get it right.”

The girls have been practicing and putting together their game day and Non-Building routines. With 11 hours of commitment each week, the varsity team is ready to go back to back as National Champions.

The team has had girls being quarantined during the week of the competition, and throughout the season so far, they have had to redo both routines to allow no extra spaces and holes in the formations. 

To get to the point of where they want to be by the end of the season, they must continue to push themselves as well as the rest of the team to move forward in the right direction.

“I hope that we are able to compete at Nationals in Florida later in the season or even compete for it virtually,” Cutler said. “If that’s not the case, I hope we come out of the season as a close team with memories that will stay with us. I also hope that the girls are fired up to try to earn those white jackets the following year.”

With 11 National and 21 State titles under their belt, the team, as well as the entire program, will continue to move forward throughout the season. The teams next competition will be in December at Midland University.