For a coach, the week before Spirit Nationals, and specifically a Worlds Bid event, can be a long few days full of mishaps that inevitably they have to deal with and solve.  A good coach has a plan for each practice, but a great coach knows how to adapt that plan due to unforeseen circumstances that will undoubtedly occur.

The week before, sometimes a day before, and more often than realized, a coach has to make routine changes just hours or minutes before their team competes. It is a huge amount of pressure that many coaches handle without breaking a sweat…it just comes with the territory.  In addition to making sure the team is ready, there are the pressures of making sure everyone has the correct uniform, that everyone knows the schedule, that the music is set and ready to go, and that all of their skills are legal.

They are also counselors dealing with stressed out parents, athlete mental blocks, inter-squad misunderstandings and the joys and struggles of the overall team dynamic. Oh…did we mention they have lives and families too? You may not have known this but coaches are actually multitasking SUPERHEROES!  A few of these superheroes found the time, in their insane schedules, to share with us what’s going on behind the scenes at their gyms, as they prepare for Spirit Nationals, the first Worlds Bid event of the season.

Island Extreme - Mel (Melissa) Torres

Have you made any changes?

Photo: Xtreme Cheer

We have made a lot of changes. We started out as a medium coed team, but due to injuries and cheerleading in New York becoming a sport, we decided to go small coed this season. The “sport” title forced kids to prioritize their high school teams over all stars and caused many conflicts in competition schedules.
 
Do you have any specific team members that do outrageous skills that bring a lot to the team's performance? 

We have some great tumblers including Brad Tellez. He is always fun to watch. 

Are there any struggles that your team might be going through?

We have had to overcome a lot of obstacles in the past week including losing two flyers.  
 
How are you feeling about your team going into the weekend?

We are excited to get our season started. I have a lot of confidence in my athletes. They adapt well to change. They have been through a lot, but I believe they will pull together. 

What is special about this team?

All of the kids are different and bring that to the mat. They give everything to be on this team. 

Extreme Starz - Judy DeRosa

What are the team's strengths?

Stunting, experienced members - the majority of our team has cheered together for more than seven years.

Have you made any changes?

Photo: Taylar Bronstein

We have taken out a few skills that aren't hitting consistently to keep the routine as clean as possible since it's our first competition of the season.

Do you have any specific team members that do outrageous skills that bring a lot to the team’s performance? 

TK and Liv are our strongest tumblers with standing fulls, arabians through to doubles and whips through to doubles.

Are there any struggles the team might be going thru? 

We had an athlete quit last week, so filling that spot has been challenging.

How are you feeling about the team going into the weekend? 

This is by far the strongest level 5 team we have ever had, with their experience and skills. I am confident they will give two great performances.

What is special about this team? 

They are so supportive of one another and have great chemistry.  They have grown up together, so those friendships really bond our team.

All Star One: Karen Brenner

We asked Karen several of the same questions but it seems like there is a little more going on with All Star One than expected.  Here is what Karen had to say:

Photo: All Star One

How are you feeling about the team going into the weekend? 

As the owner of All Star One I am super excited to attend Spirit Brands in Wildwood, NJ this weekend. Our gym is about 45 minutes away from the Wildwood Convention Center, and we feel like the hometown team. I am excited for Big Bang to have their first shot at a Worlds Bid in the Medium All Girl Level 5 division, but this weekend our gym's focus will be on our Large Senior Level 3 team, the Skylights. Myself, my staff, Big Bang and all the AS1 teams will be there to support our team and more importantly our sister/athlete that will need to sit out this competition.

Are there any struggles that the team might be going thru? 

Photo: Karen Brenner

Our Skylights team member, Dominique, was diagnosed with Cancer two months ago. She started her chemo treatments three weeks ago and had to give up her position on Skylights. We are excited that she will attend this competition and Skylights, as well as all the AS1 teams, will cheer with all their heart for Dominique.....we hope to make her proud. We will wear a purple ribbon on our sneakers, to show our love and support for our Dom.

So as you can see…there’s more than just eight counts at stake.  Worlds bids and cheerleading titles are worth working hard for but sometimes the struggles are just a little more heart wrenching than who was ranked first or second.  Real life sneaks in and punches us in the face sometimes…but fortunately us cheerleaders know how to look on the bright side of adversity.

***Tshirts can be ordered to support Dominique.  Stay tuned to FloCheer for more info in the coming days!