With students and the Celebs cheering and forming a makeshift tunnel, the send-off for the cheerleaders echoes throughout the school courtyard in a wave of support. Track coach Jake Alexander’s voice cuts through the noise as he hypes the audience up on the microphone, while the band’s drumline sets an upbeat tone. The cheer team got to move through the excitement, surrounded by applause and smiles.

Today during DEN, the cheer team was sent off to the UIL State Spirit Championships at the Fort Worth Convention Center. They are expected to perform around 7:51 p.m..

“We’re the ones that are always doing send offs for every other program,” head cheer coach Nadira King said. “We get to see the excitement, but it’s exciting for us to actually experience that support that we always give others.”

The bus ride is three hours. In the time the cheerleaders have before they perform, they have an area reserved to practice at the YMCA. After that, they check into their hotel and get ready to compete. Results will be announced between 8:30-9 p.m.. If they make it past today’s Qualifying Round, they will compete tomorrow in the State Finals.

“As a leader, I know just how hard the team works each and every practice,” senior cheer team captain Katie Foster said. “Personally, I have tried to take on every moment with gratitude because I know as a senior we don’t get another chance.”

With the exception of 2017 and last year, the cheer team has made it to the State Championship Finals every year they’ve competed.

“This year we hope to perform better than we ever have before,” senior Sophia Struve said. “Our routine is very strong and we have been practicing nonstop. I believe that if we execute it the way it’s meant to be, we could go all the way.”

The competition requires the cheer team to showcase leadership skills and sideline crowd-leading material in a three minute Game Day presentation. This presentation consists of a band chant, which focuses on crowd effectiveness, appeal, technique and practicality, crowd leading, with an emphasis on crowd involvement and a fight song, consisting of stunts, jumps or tumbling. 

“Game Day to me means the world,” Foster said. “It is the entire basis of our routine and a huge chunk of the scoresheet. Showing this school spirit is the ultimate goal and shows who we represent.”

This year’s routine was first introduced to the team in August and they had to balance that with cheering at games for various sports. Starting in December, they began practicing the routine every day.

“The journey this season has been challenging at times, but we have built special bonds together,” Struve said. “I come to practice excited to work and I can’t wait to showcase our fine-tuned routine to everybody.”

On top of preparing for the UIL competitions, the cheer team also competes in the Universal Cheer Association (UCA) competitions. On Dec. 8, they advanced in regionals and have the nationals competition coming up in February.

“[I hope they will take with them] the sense of family and knowing that they did their part and supported each other,” King said. “It’s just an experience that they will remember in college and years looking back over what a great memory it was bonding.”