Cheerleading brings on nationals
Kristin Geyer
Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: Sports
Hundreds of people sit in silence as the music is cued. A team of 15 girls wait patiently for their moment to shine. As a mix of energetic music begins, the Assumption College cheerleaders blast onto the mat and make a memorable impression on the judges. They know that they only have the next three minutes to prove themselves, so they must give the routine everything they've got.
"Right before you go on, you either want to pee your pants or throw up. Once you actually set foot on the mat, everything fades away and you just know exactly what you have to do," senior cheerleader Stephanie Camerlengo says. She continues, "The best feeling in the world is when you're done and you've hit the perfect routine-you feel like everything was worth it!"
Exhibiting strength with precise choreography, tumbling and stunts, the cheerleaders did just that and earned a second place title at the United Cheer Foundation's Pot of Gold Nationals on March 21.
The team hopes to repeat their good fortune as they head to Daytona Beach, Florida on April 9 and 10 to compete in the 2009 National Cheer Association/National Dance Association Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship. Last year, the girls earned 12th place in the nation under the All-Girl II division.
This year for the cheerleaders, though, just getting to competition in Daytona has been a journey in itself. Upon returning in the fall, "we didn't think we'd have a team," said Erika Geyer, a junior. The cheerleaders experienced difficulties when their old coach left the team, which fell apart as a result. Captain Erynn McDavitt, a senior, shared the same view. "At the beginning of this year, there was no doubt in my mind that I was done cheerleading," she said. Disheartened, but not defeated, the girls needed a reassembled team and a capable coach to guide them.
Their answer came in the addition of Matthew Holdridge, co-owner of the Bay State All Stars. The gym coaches four teams of locally and nationally recognized cheerleaders and dancers. "Matt has changed the team in every way possible. He has given us a mentally and physically stable coach to learn from, talk to, and confide in whenever needed. He is amazing," said co-captain Kailyn Getchell, a senior. The experience is a welcome contribution to the Assumption squad. "He has given us all of the tools in order to succeed, and now it is up to us to pull together as a team and perform to the best of our ability," McDavitt said.
"Right before you go on, you either want to pee your pants or throw up. Once you actually set foot on the mat, everything fades away and you just know exactly what you have to do," senior cheerleader Stephanie Camerlengo says. She continues, "The best feeling in the world is when you're done and you've hit the perfect routine-you feel like everything was worth it!"
Exhibiting strength with precise choreography, tumbling and stunts, the cheerleaders did just that and earned a second place title at the United Cheer Foundation's Pot of Gold Nationals on March 21.
The team hopes to repeat their good fortune as they head to Daytona Beach, Florida on April 9 and 10 to compete in the 2009 National Cheer Association/National Dance Association Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship. Last year, the girls earned 12th place in the nation under the All-Girl II division.
This year for the cheerleaders, though, just getting to competition in Daytona has been a journey in itself. Upon returning in the fall, "we didn't think we'd have a team," said Erika Geyer, a junior. The cheerleaders experienced difficulties when their old coach left the team, which fell apart as a result. Captain Erynn McDavitt, a senior, shared the same view. "At the beginning of this year, there was no doubt in my mind that I was done cheerleading," she said. Disheartened, but not defeated, the girls needed a reassembled team and a capable coach to guide them.
Their answer came in the addition of Matthew Holdridge, co-owner of the Bay State All Stars. The gym coaches four teams of locally and nationally recognized cheerleaders and dancers. "Matt has changed the team in every way possible. He has given us a mentally and physically stable coach to learn from, talk to, and confide in whenever needed. He is amazing," said co-captain Kailyn Getchell, a senior. The experience is a welcome contribution to the Assumption squad. "He has given us all of the tools in order to succeed, and now it is up to us to pull together as a team and perform to the best of our ability," McDavitt said.
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