On Saturday, November 11, both Varsity and Junior Varsity Competition Cheerleading took part in their first Regional Competition of the season, which was located at Del Campo High School in Fair Oaks, California.

Varsity Competitive Cheer went against 7 other teams in their Varsity Novice Non-Tumbling Division. Placing 5th overall, the team started off their season on a positive note. The team scored an 89.56, qualifying for Nationals in February.

For many athletes, this November regional was their first time competing on Varsity, or their first time going to a competition at all. Junior Giorgia Stankus said, “We were doing full outs for weeks before and we were practicing all of our stunts. I was a little nervous but we had just hit all of our stunts in the 7-minute warmup before so I was feeling more prepared. I felt good about it, one of our stunts didn’t hit, but the one that we were worried about did hit, so I was glad.”

Co-Captain sophomore Izzy Porcella said, “I am usually sick to my stomach on the car ride up there but this competition I was just excited. I knew it was our earliest competition and I was just proud in general that we were even able to make it there.”

The cheer team has practiced since the beginning of the summer and put many hours into preparing for their winter season.

When asked about what went into getting ready for the competition, Porcella said, “Lots and lots of practice and 20 full outs. I got home every day and I think I collapsed in my bed because of how tired I was. There was a lot of work, a lot of cleaning, dedication, and a lot of stress.”

Prior to regionals, athletes on Varsity Comp Cheer each had their own way of mentally preparing themselves. With 20+ cheer teams and their families cramped into a high school gym, constant blaring music, and only 2 and a half minutes to perform, stress was high. Stankus added, “I think it was just the waiting and the anticipation for the competition to start.”

While parts of the day were stressful for many of the cheerleaders, Porcella reflected on her favorite moment, “Right once we got off the mat when I went over to my stunt group and we were cheering because we hit the stunt we usually didn’t hit. When we got back up into the bleachers I was looking down at the mats and was like, ‘Wow, I want to perform again’.”

Stankus agreed and added, “My favorite part was probably after performing and sitting and watching the other groups.”

With one competition down and many to go, the Varsity athletes shared their goals for the future of the team. Senior Audrey Sakamoto said, “My goal is to definitely hit, 100%, with every stunt and make everything sharper.”

Porcella said, “My goal is to just improve our stunts, clean them up, and get to a point where everyone is super proud and dedicated to what they do. I want us to get to a point where we know confidently that we can get to Day 2 of Nationals, because I know we can and I want everyone to feel that way.”