Cheerleading is paving its way to nationals by striving to start off ahead of the curve by working overtime to get ready for competitions.
?We aren?t rushing like last year. We finished our routine by the middle of summer,? junior Abbey Hodges said. This, according to Hodges, means more time for practicing, polishing their routines and working towards nationals.
This year the team has welcomed many newcomers ?with more dedication and enthusiasm that the team needed? sophomore Sydney Shelton said.
There are three full cheerleading squads: varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen, each with have more than ten members.
?This hasn?t happened in a long time and we are really excited,? Shelton said.
In addition to all the practicing, the team also hired a choreographer, Santwon McCray, to choreograph and further improve their routine.
McCray is from Top Gun, a top cheerleading and dance center in Miami. Top Gun won the 2010 Cheer leading and Dance World Championships.
?We never had a choreographer before and he had a great personality,? freshman Teresa Snook said.
This year, there are four freshmen on the varsity team and they are ?willing to work hard,? junior Kayla Marsh said.
According to captain and senior Shannon Sturgeon, McCray helped the squad develop their cheer from just moves ?to having a dance that told a story.?
Sturgeon just wants the team ?to have fun competing and come out feeling confident? that they did the best they can.
?We want [our cheer] to leave the crowd saying ?what just happened??? Marsh said.
Coach Kelly Bresnahan?s main goal is ?to continue to progress as much as [they can] because [they are] a great group that is young and eager to learn.?