The Cardinals cheerleaders are coming off an award-winning summer.
The team set itself apart this year during the Shrine Bowl, a nonprofit to raise money for Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Eudora took home first place for its performance. Last year, the team got fourth and placed second the two years before that.
The team also had seven cheerleaders selected for the 36-person Shrine Bowl Select Cheer Team: Abby Adams, Allison Allison, Addison Moody, Maggie Nelson, Emauri Snider, Dylynn Jayne and Kynlee Dressler.
Adams received the cheerleader of the year award and also placed into the Elite 8 cheer team that came from the best of the Select Team, along with Allison.
Adams is the team’s captain and is going into her last season as a cheerleader. Adams is proud of the work she and her team did this summer, and is looking forward to continuing to move forward, she said.
The camp teaches life skills and allows the team to see those they are helping support but also builds teamwork and competition, she said.
Adams said it gives her and her teammates perspective but is also hard work that she looks forward to each year.
The team prepared a routine with stunts choreographed by her and the co-captains. This, along with some team cheers, were performed at the Showcase Showdown alongside four other teams.
Adams has been to a Shrine Bowl each year of high school, but said this year was by far the best they’ve ever done at the camp.
Receiving cheerleader of the year was unexpected, she said, especially because it takes into account skill, attitude and teamwork.
“It was a surreal moment,” she said. “It’s like the support that they gave me even before I got the award, but especially after, was really comforting.”
She said it’s her favorite part of the season, but this year it was extra special. The team has become close
The team only had nine returning cheerleaders this year, which made Adams nervous, but with a push from teammates and their coaches, they believed in themselves. The dedication has shown in their performances, she said.
This team of 18 has been the most coachable team so far, she said. It’s also been tight-knit, spending a lot of time with each other outside of practice.
“We all take criticism and the feedback so well, and that, I think, makes us so strong. And just in general, we work really well together,” she said.
Allison said it was a huge surprise when they were announced for the first-place award for the team. She felt the same way about placing in the Elite 8.
It was a confidence boost as she looks forward to college cheer, she said. She also said the team progressed a lot over the few days at camp.
Allison also pointed to the team’s performance at NCA camp, which is more of a skills camp. Allison, along with Moody, placed on the All American Cheer Team. The team has about eight people from the entire camp. Allison also received the individual leadership award.
She thanked her coaches for their help making it all happen.
“They’re so down to earth, and they’re really easy to talk to, and, like, just being coached by them is amazing in general,” she said.
Coach Corinne Dunn said it was a big deal for about half the team to be able to make the Select Team and two to make the Elite 8. The elite team signifies those girls went above and beyond with leadership and kindness, she said.
Getting to go to the Shrine Bowl is made possible by fundraising in the community, and ultimately it is for a good cause, so it means a lot to have the girls go, she said.
As Adams looks to her last season, she’s most excited for the football games while she makes her last memories on the team. She also thinks this year the team has a shot at doing well at the state competition in the fall.
“I have a lot of faith in the team this year, and again, I think we just have so much potential to do well in it this year, so I’m definitely, really looking forward to that,” she said.
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].
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