I am now a little relieved to be able to focus solely on our nationals routine. When we prepare routines for games and pep rallies, there is always that pressure among all of us to hit our stunts and look good but this time it’s different. The stakes are higher. We are for the first time, representing American University and our cheerleading and dance program on a national level (no pressure).
Both cheer and dance teams have spent countless hours practicing and fundraising towards our $40,000 goal to compete. It is astonishing how costly it is to compete but we know the hard work both fundraising and practice will be all worth it! Anything we were not able to raise had to come out of our pockets. Some of the girls were lucky enough to have the help of their parents but for some of us, we worked and saved up to compete. Some of the fundraisers we have had included: outside donations from family, friends, and alums (huge thanks!), working and staffing local cheerleading and dance competitions, hosting our very own dance invitational (thanks mom aka our dance coach Alex!), carwashes (we are praying for warmer weather in these upcoming weeks so stay tuned and get your car washed!), Z-Burger (twice), Shopmamie.com, Pizza Uno Chicago Grill in both Georgetown and Bethesda and some appearances and gigs. Like the dance team, we had to purchase aesthetic/girly stuff- a new white undergarment, bows, makeup, tanning, hair stuff (rollers and fake hair- chels is hooking me up with a weave haha) and it all adds up to look good! (and completely normal in competitive cheer I might add) We are hoping to have a little makeup party next weekend to bond and kick back while playing with makeup to make sure our girls perfect their nationals look!
With the close of the basketball season, it is time for cheer to get back to business and focus on our HUGE national competition! Time has officially started ticking for Nationals 2009 and now its crunch time! More than ever (as there was all year) there is a mounting amount of pressure on the girls to stay in shape, eat right, and rehab our aches and pains. Our bodies are machines-- little cheerleading machines. We eat, sleep, cheer! No time for drama, no time for injuries, no time for weakness- we are cheerleaders and we all have to push through it! It is hard at times but the support of my teammates and working towards a common goal help motivate me. I like to picture us on that mat- “bringing it” and walking off proud with our heads held high- that is all I want (although top 5 would be fantastic- and that comes with hard work!); that is what motivates me.
I have come to have such great respect for my teammates. They have learned to prioritize school, outside commitments, and cheerleading and I could not have been more proud of them. They have certainly grown and matured since they first walked into practice at the beginning og the year. We have all sacrificed something to be able to compete. I never understood why some people claim that cheer is not a sport or claim what we do is easy. They judge by what they see; the cuteness, the skirt, the makeup. Of course, we look cute at games and make whatever we do look easy, but that’s the point. Michael Jordan slam dunks and makes it look easy. If it was easy, everyone would be able to do it and he wouldn’t be THE Air Jordan! (it’s the point I’m making here, work with me). Cheerleading is a performance sport. When we compete, we have one shot to perform our 2:20 minute routine. Period. Months and months of practice and stress, bandages, bruises, sweat (buckets), blood, tears will all amount to those roughly 2 minutes. But you get what you put in. Fighting the sweat, pain, blood is worth it because it is what makes us stronger- that is what I live for. Why, you wonder? Because of the love of the sport! Why else would huge football players run into each other over a ball? Why would any other athlete put their body at that risk and through strain? The love of the sport! (at least I would hope) I especially love proving people wrong. As for our girls, you should see how many times our girls have gotten taken down in practice and have gotten right back up. You should see how these girls put themselves on the line for each other. That is the heart of a true athlete and a true teammate!
Everyone constantly asking about nationals and being really interested in seeing us is a great feeling, and knowing our peers are behind us in addition to each other and our coaches is comforting as well. Many times amidst my crazy (cheer) moments of life, it’s great to stop and reflect on my four years here involved with the program. I do not think the younger girls understand how far the program has evolved or how important our endeavors are for the future. I have seen firsthand how far the squad and the program has evolved from pretty much nothing (when I tried out and began my freshman year, there was pretty much no program- long story) to set to appear on a national level. Its our hard work and dedication that makes the program bigger and better for the next generation of cheerleaders and dancers to come!
This is for you AU! Go Eagles!
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