It’s the end of March, and cheerleading nationals in Daytona, Florida are just around the corner. April 8th will be here before we know it. We’ve had practice four days a week all semester. And, since Sunday after spring break, we’ve been at the gym seven days straight.
We spend at least three hours with each other every single day. And to be honest, I’m definitely getting tired of it. We’re all dealing with injuries, stress, lacking in sleep, sore bodies, and bad attitudes. SMU lost last year in Daytona to University of Louisville by .01, so with adding that extra pressure, it’s hard to let loose and have fun at practice. I can’t find the time and energy to focus on anything but cheerleading at this point.
The team is constantly yelling at someone for falling down or missing a motion during the routine. We always find a mistake to fit in somewhere during the two and a half minutes we’re performing. We get along so well off the mat, but when it comes to nationals season, everything changes.
What does winning really mean if we can’t work together as a team?
NOTHING.
I mean winning is fun and everything, but that’s not all I have to cheer for. I love getting out there and showing off everything I’ve worked for all year, but it’s hard to have fun doing it when myself and nineteen others are depending on me to do my job. I wish we could just put winning aside, and perform solely for the benefit of hitting the routine and knowing we did the best we could. After that, nothing else really matters. If we hit perfectly and don’t win, we know there’s nothing else we could have done. I just want to go out there April 8th and leave my heart out on the floor. I don’t care if we win or not, I want to do my best and have fun doing with the support of a loving team.
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I understand completely where you are coming from. I used to cheer in high school and was in fact captain of the team and I can remember the constant arguing and high emotions before competing. The thing to remember is is that you are all there because it is something you all love and enjoy and to not turn that love for the sport into something bad just because of stress. Sometimes its nice to get together after practice and all go to dinner to lighten up the bad tempers and bad moods. In the end you will all be happy whether or not you win. Good luck! Let me know how it turns out!
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