Editor’s Note: The cheerleading squads recently finished nationals with second place overrall. Jessi Clark, senior and captain of the large co-ed squad, recorded a journal of her thoughts as she went through her last time at nationals.
Jessi Clark
Monday—Today we don’t have practice because we have one last performance tomorrow afternoon. I can’t stop thinking about all the school work I need to get done. I somehow have to manage to stay focused on one task at a time. I’m extremely overwhelmed.
Tuesday—Today I have my last performance and practice at Shorter before we leave tonight. It’s so bittersweet and makes me sad and happy at the same time. The school performances make me more nervous than actually competing in Daytona for some reason. No one really knows how hard cheerleading is… or the time, blood, sweat and tears we actually put in every single day. I hope the performance goes well and we stay respected by everyone for all of our hard work.
Wednesday—Nerves haven’t completely set in yet, but we’re here in Daytona and it’s practice time. Complete chaos and hundreds of teams everywhere around us. We’re in the grass/sand and I’m just praying we don’t have any injuries. It’s time to work, get comfortable and mentally prepared in different weather conditions. Once we get back I know I have school work, but there is no way I can concentrate on that. I am so focused on prelims tomorrow, so it’s lights out early for me.
Thursday— It’s prelims day! As soon as my feet hit the floor, I’m so nervous I could throw up. I have the same feeling all day until we are done competing.
I get ready and try to concentrate and not be so nervous to where it stresses me out. We go support large co-ed and then have our practice outside in the grass. After that we go straight to warm ups inside the convention center. There are probably at least 15 other teams in the warm-up room with us. We have to all stay focused on each other and only our routine. However, there are always random thoughts in my head: “What if someone gets hurt?” I pray the entire time for God to clear my mind. After warm ups, we walk all the way around the building to wait for our turn to compete. Prelims for us are now inside first day and outside on the beach the second day. The transition into D2 is the reason behind this change. I say a prayer to myself, we pray as a team, then it’s go time.
Friday—I’ve gotten some good sleep and wake up immediately mentally preparing myself for today. It’s my last time competing, and it’s finals day. This is it (I’m shaking and feel sick to my stomach just writing this now).
We will support large co-ed again at whatever time they compete, begin practice and then will go through the warm-up process just like Thursday. The only difference is that today we are outside on the “Band Shell” (the large stage on the beach). Now that we are in D2, we are with all the bigger D1 schools and the audience is a lot larger and louder. It’s more exciting competing outside and I feel somewhat better because we have already gotten one routine out of the way.
However, I’m still very nervous and a lot more emotional today. Finals always makes me feel this way, because at that moment right before we go on, I think, “This is it, what we have worked for all year long.” This being my senior year, Iam a lot more emotional and my team expects that from me. I’ve never cried before going on the floor. My adrenaline is on another level for sure and I’m just super pumped and hoping we do great!
After we compete, awards will follow and someone will be named national champions. I hope it’s us!
Saturday—It is really bittersweet that my cheerleading career is over. It was very emotional for me after we finished competing Friday. Knowing we got second by only five tenths of a point is disappointing, but I’m so proud of this year’s team! They are the most hard working group of athletes I’ve ever been around. I was on a team with my best friends. I wouldn’t have wanted to end my senior year any other way!
