Skyline Varsity Cheer ranked second in their division at the United Spirit Association (USA) Nationals competition in Anaheim, California.
After getting first place in the Day 1 competition on February 20, Skyline Cheer advanced to the Day 2 competition on February 21, securing their silver rank. For students who have been on the team for four years, this was especially exciting. “Coming all the way from getting dead last my Freshman year to second in the nation my Senior year is a huge achievement, so I’m very proud of [my team],” Captain Clara Armstrong said.
She added that a big part of the success this year was how the team came together. “My Freshman year, it was very cliquey,” she explained. “We were not together at all.” Since then, Armstrong has been able to see and be a part of building team unity to help everyone work towards the “common goal.”
This supportive dynamic was crucial in the weeks leading up to the competition, when many cheerleaders had to sit out due to injury or illness. Coach Joey Kennedy reported that two tumblers rolled their ankles two weeks before, and many other students missed several days battling influenza. “If you’re missing a person in a stunt group, the whole stunt group sits out; it’s not just that one individual,” Kennedy explained. Because of this, many sick students chose to attend practice anyway wearing masks in order to support their teammates. Armstrong expressed, “That’s been a huge major mantra of this year, is just supporting each other, and that’s truly what’s made the difference [at competition].”
The team, competing in the Co-Ed Varsity Show Cheer Intermediate Large/Super division, hit their routine both days with zero deductions. Cheerleader Danica Bihari explained, “It was the first time in Skyline history that we’d done that, so that was very exciting.” In comparison, while the team had also ranked first on Day 1 last year with a perfect routine, they’d ultimately ended up fourth due to a stunt fall on Day 2. This year, the lack of mistakes, combined with team unity, led the team to their second place spot.
Kennedy attributed the final placing (a drop from Day 1) to the subjective nature of cheer competition judging. “Are they gonna like your routine? Are they not? I mean, we did it the very best that we could do it,” Kennedy explained. She added, “There were teams that we were ahead of [Day 1], but they had stunts fall or whatnot. […] So, we were like, ‘Okay, if they hit their routine, there is a possibility that they could beat us,’ and that is what happened. We actually were just behind by 0.6, though.”
After awards on Day 2, the team celebrated their win with a round of ice cream from admin and a two day Disneyland park hopper pass. Kennedy said, “For all of the work they put in, that’s kind of their reward.”
For the Seniors, the flight back on February 23 hit especially hard. Armstrong said, “That realization hits: this is my last time ever. And then, wow. I’m so grateful to end on that note, but it’s like… it hits you like a train.”
Bihari added, “It’s definitely sad knowing that it’s all over, but I’m glad it ended so well, and we’re so happy. I just really love how unified this team is and how it really does feel like a family. We’ve spent so much time together, and we’re all so close. So, definitely sad to miss it but excited to see what’s to come for Skyline Cheer.”
The team had one last performance together at their end of the year showcase on March 12. On March 24, Skyline Cheer will officially start preparing for next year with Cheer Tryouts. Armstrong said, “If somebody is on the edge about wanting to come do cheer, give it a try, because this feeling [of performing and competing together] is unmatched, and it is truly a family.”
