Brookland Excessive College’s cheerleaders received third place on the UCA Nationals in the course of the 2022 Nationwide Excessive College Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC) in February at Disney World’s Large World of Sports activities in Florida.
In line with head coach Brooke Williams, this was the primary time that the Bearcat cheerleaders had ever competed nationally.
BHS Junior Paige Smith mentioned all of them felt like they had been beginning a brand new legacy at Brookland Excessive College for generations to come back.
So how did this get began? Coach Williams mentioned she and assistant coach Carrie Romines had used Jonesboro Gymnastics Academy for tumbling and stunts with Coach Brandon Schleuter and Coach Ryan Salami twice per week and that they bought choreography for the crew from Brian Bridge at Broc Choreography.
Then after a lot observe and attending a number of competitions, they went to the AAA State Cheerleading Championships in December on the Scorching Springs Conference Heart-Financial institution OZK Area.
“Though I’ve teased that three was our fortunate quantity this 12 months after coming in third place at each state and nationwide,” Coach Williams mentioned, “reality is that after successful first place on the state competitors final 12 months, however then solely inserting third this 12 months, the crew simply felt that they weren’t executed but and they also needed to strive yet one more time.”
“They determined to go to nationals simply to show themselves,” Williams mentioned, “So, in February, we the UCA Nationals in Florida.”
The crew flew to Florida and arrived at Disney World’s Large World of Sports activities on Feb. 10 the place they competed for the primary few days.
The colleges had been break up by stunt teams, Williams mentioned, noting that the Bearcats had been positioned within the Giant Varsity Division II group, the place they took first within the semifinals.
Then after some further observe, crew members loved a park day earlier than the finals on Feb. 13.
After competing alongside facet extra then a 1,000 different colleges from throughout the nation, Williams mentioned that they had been lower than a degree away from the crew that received first place.
First Place on the NHSCC went to Dwell Oak Excessive College from Watson, La., Williams mentioned, noting that this was Dwell Oaks Excessive College’s sixth time at nationals, and second place went to Seaford Excessive College from Seaford, New York.
Then they loved yet one more day on the park earlier than flying again dwelling on Feb. 14 to get pleasure from Valentines Day with their households.
Williams mentioned they had been very honored to have even positioned and that they plan to return subsequent 12 months, as effectively.
Cheer Captain and BHS senior Taylor Reece mentioned that attending to be a part of the crew that began the legacy of going to nationals was very thrilling.
“The purpose was to make it to finals,” Reece mentioned, “however we got here again with medals, which was greater than we might have requested for.”
The success at nationals may need one thing to do with the 56 college students who already signed as much as check out this 12 months, Williams mentioned.
Freshman Kaylee Privett mentioned it was like a fairy story. Privett was the one freshman among the many 23 ladies who make up the senior crew that went to nationals, and Coach Williams teased her that she was their fairy princess.
The 23 college students that made up the crew embody:
Seven seniors – Captain Riley Lewis, Captain Sarah McGarity, Captain Taylor Reece, Captain Olivia Wilcoxson, Amber Sims, Emma Whitmire and Elyse Wilcoxson.
Seven juniors – Mary Sloan Childers, Graci Grim, Regan McGaughey, Paige Smith, Emmi Walton, Libby Welch and Sydney Wofford.
Eight sophomores – Avery Adkins, Emma Barker, Peyton Ellard, Kaylyn Jiles, Lydia Jiles, Carleigh McClung, Bella Miller and Aubrey Wallace.
One freshman – Kaylee Privett.
Junior Emmi Walton mentioned that she is so excited to return subsequent 12 months and compete as a senior.
Cheer Captain and BHS senior Riley Lewis mentioned that her favourite half was attending to spend the perfect week of her life together with her greatest pals on the happiest place on earth (Disney World).
Cheer Captain and BHS senior Olivia Wilcoxson mentioned it was wonderful to see how proud everybody was of them.
“We labored so onerous this 12 months and it actually paid off,” Wilcoxson mentioned.
Cheer Captain and BHS senior Sarah McGarity mentioned it was wonderful to compete one final time together with her greatest pals and that it was the perfect expertise of her life. “I like the way it feels to compete. I like the vitality and the sensation it brings you to know you might be doing you r greatest and it’s being acknowledged.”
The BHS Cheerleaders’ efficiency on the UCA Nationals could be considered on-line at television.varsity.com (seek for Brookland) and can air on ESPN within the spring as one of many high 5 efficiency groups.