Cheerleaders 5th in State

by: Anna Mattox

 “I believe that we will win!” As the basketball players chanted that for us, it was then when the feeling that state was tomorrow hit me. We gathered on the bus, and hung our head out the windows as the bus driver, along with all of the supporting parents, and cops, escorted us around town. After a long ride, and a wonderful dinner, the entire cheerleading squad gathered together in the halls of our Holiday Inn. The tradition started the night before KAPOS. As we pass the candle around, each girl says something inspiring to help us focus and prepare ourselves for the following day. As the candle was passed around, Carlotta Sweet was given the chance to talk, and she held up this sign that they had made. It was a flashing megaphone with NC, and she said that when she holds that sign up, it is our reminder to try like we’ve never tried before and to stick everything!

It was the day. The day that we have been working for since August. SIX months. Hours and hours of practice for exactly 2 minutes and 30 seconds to prove that we were the best. One mess, one fall, and everything was over. So much stress was put onto each of us. The only thing I could think of was that 5^th place spot that we had set our goals for. When we were standing on the corner of the matt, before they announced for us to come out, I looked up and almost started bawling my eyes out. Every person that had come down to cheer us on, was on their feet screaming and yelling for us! And there it was. The flashing sign. When Megan turned around and said “Girls there’s the sign, you know what that means!” I seriously almost lost it.

The music began and for the next two and a half minutes all of us gave it everything we had. All the adrenaline kicked in and we were like super humans. Hannah Pope had so much adrenaline that her shoe flew off within the first tumbling pass and the poor girl had to perform with out it! All of the mounts hit except for one. But luckily, after it fell, we popped that thing back up in enough time that we didn’t loose too many points. After the performance we sat and watched the rest of the teams perform. The time finally came for awards and as all the teams sat on the mat intensely waiting for the scores. The judges came on over the microphone and started announcing the winners. “5^th place goes to region 10 cheerleaders from Nicholas County!” Wait what? Did I hear that right? Our team had fought through the good and bad times. The sickness and the injuries to bring home that trophy of 5^th place in State! As us seniors ran to get the trophy, we all began crying of joy. I don’t thing any of us will ever be able to forget this moment of glory! All of our goals for the year had been full filled. 1^st at KAPOS, Grand champions at JKD, and 5^th place at state. Over all I could never ask for a better senior year in cheerleading. J