Assistant cheerleading coach Jasmine Crame was moved to “happy tears” while witnessing the team’s growth at the National Cheerleading Association camp last week in Baldwin City.
As a result of their progress throughout the camp, the team was awarded the most-improved trophy.
“They had just made such leaps and bounds overall and everything. So, that was really cool to see,” Crame said.
The accomplishment also made head coach Corinne Dunn proud.
“Going in when we first walked into camp, they were kind of like, ‘What did we get ourselves into?’” Dunn said. “So, from where we started to where we finished was really big.”
This was the first time the cheer team competed at the camp, which drew about 15 schools.
The team took home first place for team cheer and won blue ribbons for its chant, cheer and band chant.
All seven of the team’s seniors were nominated for All-American as well. To earn the honor, cheerleaders were graded on three jumps, a cheer and their spiriting.
Based on the camp performance, the team received a bid to compete at a national competition later in the season.
Senior Natalynn Tuckness said all the team’s accomplishments were a pay off for their hard work.
“We were up at like 6 a.m. and didn’t go to bed until 11. It was long days for sure,” Tuckness said. “We were pushed to our limits, and it really just helped us become a better team and learn a bunch of new skills.”
Dunn said the camp was a great opportunity for the team to learn to work together in a high-pressure environment.
“Camp is just a good way to get the girls out of their comfort zone to really grow,” she said. “It’s a good bonding experience because it’s a lot of pressure and it’s stressful, and they have to learn to work as a team and really mesh well and push through the tough parts.”
The team had about two and a half weeks to prepare for the NCA camp. Tuckness said the team had to learn three chants and cheers each week in order to be ready.
Junior Abby Adams said the team’s captains also spent time each week going over minor things, such as their outfits and hair, so the rest of the team understood the importance of perfecting even the smallest of details.
Adams said her main takeaway from the camp was how well the team came together even during challenging times.
“Not everyone is going to be in a great mood all the time, but no matter what we’re still a team and we still need to work together and have fun and lift each other up,” Adams said.
Senior Lealind Trigg, who won an award for her leadership at the camp, said the team gained a lot of new skills.
“We learned new stunts, new chants, new cheers,” Trigg said. “We became way sharper as a team and learned timing together, and how to be a team while doing a chant.”
The team will have another two and half weeks to prepare for their next camp at the Shrine Bowl in Fort Hayes starting July 12.
The team will work on a performance to take to the Shrine Bowl, but Dunn said this camp will focus more on the team bonding aspect.
“The Shrine Bowl is more of a ‘you’re here to work,’ but also it focuses on the why do we do the Shrine Bowl and the connections among the girls,” Dunn said. “We always have like a cookout or a team bonding event. It’s also a lot more fun and it’s not as stressful or rigorous, but it’s still really meaningful and it still pushes the girls for growth.”
Trigg said all the effort and bonding the team is putting in this summer will be big when the fall sports season comes around.
Reach reporter Jack Denebeim at [email protected]
