Destination: Nationals - AU Cheer Junior, Clay aka Panda

"The Big Kahuna." "The Grandest Stage of Them All." "The Big Dance." "The Game." "The End-All Be-All." Each sport has a different name for their final destination. Ours is simply "Nationals." To each of us, it may mean something different - memories, injuries, pressure, love, hate, friends, beaches, pools, stress, bus trips, but there are a few of us who have only heard the stories of what lies in Daytona, FL. One thing remains consistent throughout the team: the path to Nationals.

I have been a part of big competitions before: Wrestling Finals, Football Championships, Baseball Championship games, intramural volleyball finals, softball finals. But never before have I been a part of such a highly team-oriented organization. Sure, football and baseball and the like have teamwork - but there is always backup. Cheerleading, as I have found out, is the pinnacle of teamwork. If one person goofs on a pyramid (those cool flashy things we do on the court that consist of human on top of other humans), the whole thing can come crashing down. There isn't someone who can switch spots quickly to save it from falling. Boom. The pyramid is done and the entire team is made to look foolish and inept.

Now, cheerleading was one of the last things I expected to do in college - having looked at a number colleges to play football for or be an athletic trainer. But I saw an opportunity to keep in shape, make some friends, and be a member of a team after a lifetime of being active in sports. I thought it to be sort of a joke: "Hey, I'll throw some girls around and kill some spare time." I come to find out that in preparation for Nationals, we work just as hard physically, mentally, and emotionally as any other team out there.

We are not rewarded by the school we represent like the official sports. We don't get free jerseys or shorts or cool backpacks. We do what we do for a number of reasons: a challenge, a passion, a group to belong to, boredom. From 9 - 15 hours a week we are in Bender Arena practicing our tumbling (those cool flips and stuff), stunts, baskets, etc. Many of us can be found in Jacobs Fitness Center improving our strength and cardio many hours a week. Many of us can also be found at Infinity, a gym in Virginia were we can improve our tumbling skills. I even took advantage of Winter Break and a local gym and coach (PrimeTime Tumbling) where I learned to do a back handspring. Yes people, a 250lb man can do those cool flips too - just call me Panda (like Po from Kung-Fu Panda). And we pay out of pocket and fund raising for our supplies and for Nationals.

Sure, I'm a newcomer. But I never settle for less. With hard work and determination one can achieve anything they want. Fractured and severely sprained ankles, black eyes, football injuries re-agitated by holding girls up, strained wrists don't interfere. We all hurt, but we all show up to practice and give it our all. We want to win. We want to be the best we can be.

Now I don't expect to go into Nationals and come out with the Championship, but I do expect to force their eyes open (and something Bronze or Silver would be awesome). Our pain, blood, suffering, sweat, deprived social lives, and empty pockets will pay off.

American Who? American U.