Flyers left to right: Liliana Reyes, Elektra Courtland, Casey Collins
The midgets team was originally nine girls during sideline season. Once the sideline/football season ends, the competition season begins.
After sideline ended, one girl dropped out of the team, but director Thereasa Gravley was approached by football players that wanted to join the team. After reviewing the rules (that states all competitors must be on season roster to compete) they were allowed to compete.
The girls had already qualified without the boys to Junior Nationals, which meant they would have to requalify at a regional competition to have the boys go to nationals with them. They went on to get first place wins in regionals and qualified for Junior Nationals.
In Anaheim, Junior Nationals, they performed and got first place in points which moved them into finals. Their second performance, after a long and tiring day, was cleaner than the first. This team, having five boys who have never competed before November, won first place champions in their division.
The Pee Wee team lost their coaches at the beginning of competition season, leaving the cheer director to step in as coach. The team lost one of their flyers (Karina Rosales) a couple weeks before going to Junior Nationals to a broken ankle, causing them to have to make some last-minute changes to their routine.
These 10 girls, heartbroken that Rosales couldn’t compete, came together and made it happen. They are ages 8 through 10 and, never competing on a regional and national level, they took home two first-place wins in regional competitions this season and third place at Junior Nationals. They missed first place at nationals by 0.8 points.
Gravely said, “I couldn’t be more proud of their perseverance, strength and bravery. It takes a lot to get out there and perform under so much pressure.
“Competitive cheer is a hard and dangerous sport. Remembering counts, jumps, tumbling, holding a girl above their heads, holding themselves up in someone’s hands, all while maintaining a smile/facials. They are beyond incredible!”
— Submitted by Thereasa Gravley
