Perseverance and determination are among the steps to achieve your dreams. Once you’re there, you feel thrilled because the sacrifices you’ve made make it worthwhile to be standing in the spotlight.
That is what members of the UTRGV Cheer Team felt last month, when they joined students from more than 70 universities to compete in one of the most prestigious cheer competitions in the country, the Universal Cheerleading Association College Nationals (UCA) at the ESPN World Wide News Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.
Most of them dreamed of competing in cheer at a collegiate level since they started cheerleading in middle school. Just the experience is a dream come true for most. Some even crossed it off their bucket list.
“I’ve always dreamt of competing at college nationals,” cheer captain Ana Avila said. “It’s like no other All-Star competition could compare to, and I grew up doing All Star. School cheer competition is nothing like the college level, so that was an amazing experience. The fact that I was able to accomplish that, that was something that was definitely on my bucket list and I was so happy it happened this year and with this team.”
The team competed in Small Co-Ed Division I with 17 other universities. The team placed 13th in its division, and 11 universities advanced to the finals. Even though they didn’t qualify for the finals, the members believed that they did well in their division, represented the university well enough and are proud of their performance.
“I left the competition knowing that we tried our best and that we left the competition knowing that we left the mark we wanted to leave for UTRGV and the reputation we wanted for UTRGV,” said Joshua Perez, a first-year member of the team.
The UTRGV Cheer Team was recognized for its crowd effectiveness, creativity and community service. The cheer teams that did not advance to finals received a 2017 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Competition at Walt Disney World plaque participation award.
To qualify for nationals, each team must submit a video displaying their skills and talent. A total of 20 members of the cheer team participated, with 16 competing on the mat.
The UTRGV cheer coach held a tryout among the cheer members to fill in the spots she thought were best suited for the nationals. The handpicked athletes practiced nonstop until the day of the competition. Aside from the practice they need for competition, they also have practice for basketball season and schoolwork. Even during the holiday break for the whole university, the cheer team did not stop practicing for the contest.
The team practiced twice a day, from morning till afternoon and a break for lunch. Janet Peña, the team’s cheer and dance coordinator, said the team is dedicated to its work as athletes.
“The kids showed a lot of heart, a lot of pride and dedication,” Peña said.
Preparing for a huge competition that only happens once a year, the cheer team met and overcame obstacles in their way. For one, the team does not have its own facility or enough equipment to practice for nationals; they practiced at local gyms.
This is the first time the cheer team competed as UTRGV and it has been a long time coming, according to the team’s coach, Lora Solis, who cheered at legacy institution University of Texas Pan American. The squad did not compete last year because it is still building a strong foundation for the UTRGV Cheer Team.
Students interested in joining the team must have two years of varsity experience or past participation in cheerleading competition. They must have a 2.5 GPA year round and attend 80 percent to 90 percent of the athletic games, community and university events. Important characteristics are dedication, athleticism and loyalty.
For more information, email lora.solis@utrgv.edu.
