Varsity Competitive Cheer traveled down to Anaheim, California once again to compete at the annual USA Spirit Nationals. The competition, which took place from Feb. 19 through Feb. 22, concluded with Campo securing a second-place trophy on Saturday, Feb. 20.
“Nationals was definitely a little different this year, schedule-wise,” said senior head captain Isabelle Porcella. “This year, because we were performing really late in the day [on Friday], we actually just got to relax on the plane, get dinner when we got [to Anaheim], and then just relax the entire rest of the next day before we performed.” Most of the team enjoyed having more designated rest time, enjoying meals, and bonding with each other.
The team’s advancement to the finals was a great feat, especially considering it hasn’t been done by a Campo team in close to a decade. Sophomore Lia Yee said watching the team make it to finals was “incredible. I was crying because I was so proud.” Porcella said making it to day two was her favorite moment of the entire trip, saying, “It was genuinely the best feeling ever.”
Campo improved from their previous record of third place last year which the team already considered a massive accomplishment. Porcella said, “every year that I’ve been at Nationals, my goal was to make it to day two before I graduate. And every year, it felt like we were so close…And especially last year, because we got third, and the top two teams got to go to day two.”
While Campo was able to make it to finals, there were still inevitable areas of improvement for the team. Despite the deductions from the first day’s performance, the team was determined to perform their absolute best during finals. Yee added, “I didn’t think [going to finals] was going to happen at all. I had some doubts, but after seeing [the first performance], I knew we could do better.” Porcella said, “the hopes were really high, because we had a few deductions during our day one performance, but without those deductions, we would have placed first.”
Senior Samantha Roumbanis commented on the increase in time spent practicing in the weeks leading up to the final competition. “Preparation this year was intense. We extended practices for way longer than the usual end time…There was a lot of sweat and muscle put into our preparation.” Porcella noted that in “the weeks leading up [to Nationals], I think we really had some sort of confidence boost. We weren’t hitting everything perfectly, but we were performing and having fun…so I think that really boosted our confidence.”
Yee felt the uncertainty of the competition looming before the team even left. Yee said, “A lot of my teammates were really stressed out, because [the routine] didn’t really look ready when we left, but it just all came together.” With a close to “hit zero” performance the second time, the team was able to calm any underlying worries with a spectacular final performance.
As Porcella and Roumbanis will both be graduating this May, they offer their words of wisdom for future cheerleaders on the team. Porcella said, “I really want [the team] to get first next year, continue the legacy, and I want them to have a lot of fun.” Porcella also said, “I’ve noticed a gradual increase in required commitment, and a lot more added stress, but I just feel closer to my teammates, more than ever.” Roumbanis added that athletes should “put in as much effort as possible and really push for first place. We go up a place every year, so you can make it happen!”
