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Some Inspirational Stories.......
Stewy's Story
Doesn't it always seem like you don't know what you've got until it's gone? That's how I realized that cheerleading was more than a sport to me--- It is a passion.
My sophomore year, I had made Varsity squad and hated it. I hated cheering--being drenched, frozen, and practically blown away during football season. I hated how angry fans threw candy at the cheerleaders during the game. I still hate how guys would crowd to see if I was wearing "underwear" when I walked up the staircases at school because it was "Spirit Friday."
However, when I tore my ACL during gymnastics one winter, it dawned on me why I chose to cheer in spite of all the things I hate. In any other sport, if you miss the catch, all you lose is the ball. In cheerleading, there is a bond of trust stronger than any that I've ever known. I missed being able to be with the girls I had grown to trust so well. Plus, I hated the feeling of looking down on the field and thinking, "That could have been me..." The good feelings that one can get from cheering are always stronger than the negative.
Now, no matter what condition I am in while I cheer (rain, sleet, or stairs), I remember one thing: It's better down here where I love it enduring a hardship than not cheering at all.
Ashley's Story
This may sound weird, but my whole childhood I lived, breathed and played basketball. When tryouts finally came in 7th grade, I missed them because I was sick.
I loved the game soo much. I would do anything to see all the games. My next option was cheerleading. I wasn't so sure if I wanted to do i,t but I tried out anyway. Instead of making up some lame excuse, I'll just put it this way-- I was AWFUL. I was last on the list, but regardless I made it. I, in a way, improved my jumps and my stunting. But, it was obvious I needed some work.
After two seasons, I knew I wanted to continue cheering. By 8th grade my jumps went from hardly coming up off the ground to being an inverted jump. I was so proud of myself and I kept working ,knowing that if I kept trying I could only get better.
High school tryouts were coming up and I was so nervous. I felt sick the whole week before and I wasn't sure if I really wanted to try out. But I did. There was about 30 people or more trying out for varsity, so I had a feeling I wouldn't make it. I didn't care because there was always J.V. and that was the squad that I was supposed to be on as a freshman. After the second day of tryouts, the coach told us who would be trying out for what squad. I went down to get a drink and one of the girls who had already graduated came down after me to talk to me about something. Her exact words were, "I have been watching you since you were in 7th grade, you have improved so much. You are an amazing cheerleader. What would you say if we offered you a place on the varsity squad?" With that I started to cry.
Tryouts came around and I did my best. Our coach gave me my scores and I was third highest with only seniors beating me. I was soo excited. Now that I'm a sophmore I'm still on varsity and I'm loving every minute of it.
My advice to any cheerleader at any age is NEVER give up because if you keep trying you can only get better. Keep smiling and one day your dreams are going to come true.
Coach Loie's Story
They weren't kidding when they gave me the "Most Potential" Award my freshman year of high school! I don't think that they knew how far I was going to take it.
I tried out for cheerleading in August after all of my friends had made the J.V. team in the previous May. As I looked around at all of the other girls' faces, I realized that this wasn't going to be just an after school activity.
I made the Varsity team as a freshman. At the end of that year was when I received the "Most Potential" Award. All I kept thinking was "What a stupid award!", of course I didn't know what "Potential" meant!
I moved from the big city that I grew up in to a smaller town half way across the State. There I met my favorite coach of all time. She was the most inspirational woman in my life. She struggled with cancer. As a devoted Christian, she believed that He would save her... and in a way He did. She passed away only a year after we met. I will never forget her strong heart, her love for not only this amazing sport but also her love for "her girls" and the way she embraced life, and death, with grace and hope that tomorrow would be a better day.
I graduated 4 years ago and I have been a coach ever since. There is no bigger joy than when I walk in the gym to see "my girls" and "Coach Loie", if I ever touch half of the lives you touched through your coaching, then it will be all worth it.
Diana M's Story
"When I was younger, I used to have this friend, Paula, and she was so great at gymnastics and tumbling, which made her perfectly fit for a cheerleader. I always wanted to be a cheerleader ever since I watched my first cheerleading competition on ESPN. Well anyway, I had just started my first year as a 7th grader, and heard they were holding tryouts for the cheerleading squad, I was so anxious and tried so hard during tryouts with my best friend Paula. I made it to second cut, along with my friend. I was so happy, and inside had a feeling that soon enough I would be on the cheerleading squad.
Well the next day, second cut was being held and the cheer that we learned totally messed me up because of the hard foot movements and I got really nervous. I hardly yelled and didn't even do the cheer right. Unfortunately I hadn't made it, and Paula did, which made me go home crying. I had totally given up on cheerleading, thinking I was just not good enough.
That December I moved out to Long Island, NY which was an hour away from my old town. It hurt a lot to be away from my best friend, but I survived. In June, they were holding tryouts for cheerleading, for the 2000-2001 season, and I decided to build up some confidence and tryout again. I worked so hard, and gave it my all, and I made it! This year, being an 8th grader and part of the cheerleading squad at my school, I've made so many new friends, and built up my confidence so much. It's really important to never give up on anything. If you fail, then try, try again!!!"
Pam Headridge's Story
"The awards were announced and Mariner High School Co-Ed Cheerleaders placed third. The cheerleaders were delighted but the coach wondered because they had dropped several stunts. She received their score sheets and noticed the addition was wrong. Mariner had placed 4th not third. She talked to the person in charge of the competition. They told her to keep the third place trophy and they would notify Oak Harbor that they placed third and would send them another third place trophy. The coach told her team immediately of the discrepancy. They decided on the spot that it was not fair to keep a trophy that they did not earn. With tears in their eyes and belief in their hearts they approached the Oak Harbor Cheer team and gave them the trophy for third place. Oak Harbor was overwhelmed with their honesty and kindness. The very next week the Oak Harbor cheerleaders sent Mariner a trophy with the inscription "Mariner High School, State Sportsmanship Award"."
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