WHAT A TURN AROUND

In the Fall I mentioned that Calli's team was having a hard time at competitions. In my inexperienced opinion, I felt like it was a unity thing. The team wasn't quite gelling. There were many that weren't giving 100% which made those that were giving 200% frustrated which in turn stirred up the disunity. It was vicious cycle. I think her coach was SOOOOO frustrated and I'm sure reached out to several coaches on what to do. They started doing some fun activities during practice and created these encouragement tins. I don't really know the details so I won't pretend. The results have been that the team has come together and drastically improved. So much so that we are now undefeated in the Nationals Season with only one competition left....the BIG one in Dallas.

First there was Ft. Worth

 Then there was Houston where they raked up BIG! They won their division, Jr level 4. Then they won high point which means they beat all youth, senior and co-ed teams. Then they won a bid to the summit which is similar to a Worlds competion for levels 1 through 4. That also won the gym a $1000. The performance both days were really great and the team was excited! And when you are winning, you tend to like each other better.

And then there was last weekends ASC in Katy. This one was exciting because we got a new jacket! And it was a cute one! 

 Calli and Kendall-her other base in her stunt group

And then her stunt group.

Next weekend we head to Dallas where we face the BIG DOGS. This competition has a great deal of pressure attached to it. Everything you do all season, every competition, every change in coreography, etc is so that you can WIN NCA! It's the pinnacle of the season. It will be tough! But it can be done....last year Calli's team had a zero deduction routine BOTH days and ended up winning beating out a team from Colorodo, Maryland, New Jersey, etc.

I have learned about a whole new trend in competitive cheer. In Ft Worth, as Calli and I were walking to get a smoothie when panic came over her. "Mom it's (insert really great cheerleaders name)!!!!!" Of course I said "who?" like 5 times because silly me thought she was trying to point out someone we knew. Oh no...it was a Cheetah from Cheer athletics who had a swarm around her, one by one taking pictures. So Calli waits in "line" to take her picture and I have to snap the shot. We walk a little farther and it's another Cheer Athletics cheerleader. It turns out that with the You Tube phenomenan, these really great athletes are spotted out during routines they watch on the internet or spots that these people make on themselves showing off their crazy, ridiculous tumbling or jumps skills and then they are stalked at competitions. It was the papparazzi. I told Calli she was going to have to get her friends to take pictures because I felt silly. She didn't. In the stands some other parents and I were talking about how crazy this was when an announcement was made...

"May I have your attention please...we realize there are several cheerlebrities here this weekend and we would ask that  you not distract them asking for pictures or autographs until after they have performed because their coaches need them at warm ups and focused."

What??? You have a name for them...cheerlebrities?

Check this out...this is a video I took while at the Houston competition. I happened to be sitting outside in the hallway to do some work I had brought with me while I was waiting. This guy is 10 feet from the door and had just walked in when he was swarmed. His buddies after a while were like "we gotta go!" He couldn't get away. And when he finally did, he went another 100 feet before a new group of kids pounced on him for their few seconds to stand next to this cheerlebrity. Some would have them sign their shoes, other their phone cases. It's comical.