Warsaw Cheerleading Team Takes No. 4 Ranking To State Finals
November 3, 2022 at 10:29 p.m.
Warsaw Cheerleading Team Takes No. 4 Ranking To State Finals
By Connor McCann-
The team of 22 girls, led by six seniors, started practicing its routine in June, practicing for two hours a day, three days a week. A routine is a continuous show of talent in the squad by use of cheers, chants and dance steps.
“We’ve gone over the routine many, many times, to the point the girls are probably rolling their eyes when I tell them it’s time to practice again,” Warsaw head coach Kari Doty laughed. “But the team really wanted to make this goal happen so they worked their tails off to make sure that it did.”
Warsaw competed against 20 other teams at the preliminary round at Mt. Vernon High School on October 22, performing its routine to a panel of judges, who base their scores off of things such as originality, complexity of stunts and timing. Warsaw was one of 12 schools to qualify for the state championship.
“We had competed at around four events before the prelims and each time we would take what the judges gave us and tweak the routine based on it,” Doty said. “By the time you get this far in the competition, you kind of know what is being looked at.”
After the preliminary competition, the team was given a specific day to expect results and whether or not the team had qualified. The email containing the information didn’t arrive until 9 p.m.
“When we found out that we made it, we knew how much our hard work had paid off,” Freshman Courtney Brower said. “We’ve spent so much time working on our routine and we’re so excited. A little anxious, but we’re ready to get there.”
The team’s motto is “A successful team beats with one heart,” further emphasizing the synchronization needed to cheer at the high level the team has this season. To prevent overkill on practicing the routine, Doty schedules team-building activities such as games and dress-up days to keep the team loose and cohesive. Brower says her teammates have been instrumental to the fun she’s had this season.
“The seniors have taught us all so much and are so motivating to keep us going,” the freshman said. “Our teamwork and chemistry is fantastic and I think that’s one of the reasons we made it to state. We want to be there together.”
The Tigers will perform their routine at 11:35 a.m. Saturday.
“All I want for the girls is for them to get off the mat Saturday and feel that they did the best they could do,” Doty said. “We have a saying ‘leave it all on the mat,’ knowing we couldn’t have done it any better than we did. That’s all I want for them.”
The team of 22 girls, led by six seniors, started practicing its routine in June, practicing for two hours a day, three days a week. A routine is a continuous show of talent in the squad by use of cheers, chants and dance steps.
“We’ve gone over the routine many, many times, to the point the girls are probably rolling their eyes when I tell them it’s time to practice again,” Warsaw head coach Kari Doty laughed. “But the team really wanted to make this goal happen so they worked their tails off to make sure that it did.”
Warsaw competed against 20 other teams at the preliminary round at Mt. Vernon High School on October 22, performing its routine to a panel of judges, who base their scores off of things such as originality, complexity of stunts and timing. Warsaw was one of 12 schools to qualify for the state championship.
“We had competed at around four events before the prelims and each time we would take what the judges gave us and tweak the routine based on it,” Doty said. “By the time you get this far in the competition, you kind of know what is being looked at.”
After the preliminary competition, the team was given a specific day to expect results and whether or not the team had qualified. The email containing the information didn’t arrive until 9 p.m.
“When we found out that we made it, we knew how much our hard work had paid off,” Freshman Courtney Brower said. “We’ve spent so much time working on our routine and we’re so excited. A little anxious, but we’re ready to get there.”
The team’s motto is “A successful team beats with one heart,” further emphasizing the synchronization needed to cheer at the high level the team has this season. To prevent overkill on practicing the routine, Doty schedules team-building activities such as games and dress-up days to keep the team loose and cohesive. Brower says her teammates have been instrumental to the fun she’s had this season.
“The seniors have taught us all so much and are so motivating to keep us going,” the freshman said. “Our teamwork and chemistry is fantastic and I think that’s one of the reasons we made it to state. We want to be there together.”
The Tigers will perform their routine at 11:35 a.m. Saturday.
“All I want for the girls is for them to get off the mat Saturday and feel that they did the best they could do,” Doty said. “We have a saying ‘leave it all on the mat,’ knowing we couldn’t have done it any better than we did. That’s all I want for them.”
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