Nationals. Held in late January, in Dallas for cheer and Orlando for dance, these competitions are the most anticipated feature of the season, according to senior dance Executive Captain Mary Evans. Though these competitions are more than five months away, preparation started this summer.

“This summer we focused on conditioning to build up our endurance and technique,” Evans said.

Dance team practiced for two weeks before attending a United Dance Association camp at Tan-Tar-A resort July 9-12. After placing third in the home routine competition and every member earning two blue ribbons in the individual evaluations, the team qualified for Nationals. Additionally five team members were named All-American Dancers.

“My favorite thing about camp was either home routine or evaluations, I just prefer performing over practicing,” freshman Abbie Sinow said. “Growing closer to the team was also a benefit, since I didn’t really know anyone that well yet.”

The cheer team also met with success at the National Cheer Association camp at the Sheraton Hotel June 18-20. The team experienced a learning curve at camp and left as better cheerleaders than when they arrived, especially new members, according to senior Megan Breckenridge. They won the Top Performance Award and had three seniors make the All-American team.

“Our sound grew immensely and I was very proud of our new girls for stepping it up and winning a trophy,” Breckenridge said. “We qualified for Nationals at camp.”

Despite these early successes, the dance and cheer seasons are just getting started. There is still hard work to be done, and they won’t be done competing at state, national, and regional competitions until spring.

“As a team we are really wanting to improve in pom while maintaining our success in kick,” Evans said. “We are all willing to make any extra effort for this to happen.”

It is critical that the dance team continues to work hard and build strength throughout the year and not just expect to make finals at nationals without putting in hard work, according to dance coach Shelli Vaughan. Members also look forward to making friends and memories in the year to come, according to Sinow.

“As a senior, I want this last year to be memorable for all the cheerleaders on the team so we can set the stakes for how to lead and encourage our school and one another,” Breckenridge said.

The cheer and dance teams, though they work at perfecting different skills, share a common goal of improving their rank at Nationals. Both teams started along the path to accomplishing this goal this summer by qualifying at camp, and are ready for upcoming months of hard work and conditioning. Finally, both teams hope to create lasting friendships and memories along the way.