Cheerleading looks to wow the competition

Written By:
Ebony Turner

Published:
Dec. 04 2009

      This years Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) Varsity Cheerleading Competition will be hosted by Montgomery Blair on November 21. The event is open to all squads from Montgomery County.
       The competition is separated into three divisions, beginning with Division 3 which includes Springbrook, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Blake, Einstein, Walter Johnson, Northwood, Rockville, Wheaton and Walt Whitman. Each team is given a two minute warm-up to do a run through of their routine and to test the floor. An awards ceremony is held after all the teams have completed their routines; the first place squad is given the option to advance a division and the last place team is moved down a division when available.
       “I am really excited for the cheerleading competition, but I am really nervous too because this is my first year competing so I do not really know what to expect,” junior Sharon Rozario said. “Some of the other girls who have gone before told me how much fun it is so even though I am nervous, I am looking forward to it.”
     Each squad performs a routine judged on various elements including jumps, facials, cheers, choreography and tumbling which can include back somersaults and handsprings, cartwheels, dive rolls, splits and tumbles. The judges take into consideration the fluidity and originality of the routine, in addition to the timing and rhythm of moves and jumps. Teams with strong and enthusiastic voices are also scored favorably.
     “We plan on getting first place this year because we have a new, fresh routine with many stunts that we have never done before,” junior Shavon Hill said. “In the past, we have not done too well in competitions, but I think this year we have a good chance.”
   Another vital element of the judging process is the level of crowd participation.
     “We need to get a lot of people to come out and support us,” Hill said. “We got the spirit award two years ago and we want to get it again but we need to get the crowd hyped to do that so we need alot more of our own Springbrook kids out there.”
     Similar competitions will be held over the winter, giving the team another chance at advancement.
    “We are holding tryouts right now, so hopefully we will find some new talent so we can do even better in the upcoming season and in the winter competitions,” Rozario said.