They ran across the stage, waving their pom-poms. The Vaquero mascot was waving the white flag with the UTRGV logo on it. The audience was screaming. Their loved ones were rooting for them. Their school was chanting for them from afar and close. Their coach was watching, proud and ready to see them perform.
The UTRGV Cheer Team placed second in the Open Coed Game Day Competition at the 2020 Universal Cheerleaders Association & Universal Dance Association College Cheerleading & Dance Team National Championship, held Jan. 17 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
They had been preparing for this day since last November. For three days a week, 5:30 to 8 a.m. were dedicated solely to practicing. While other students caught up on overdue sleep, the team was practicing its high kicks and chants during the winter break.
Emilee Ramos, a junior cheerleader, said she and her teammates encouraged each other to persist. “We’re almost there,” they would say practice after practice. Some days, Ramos would feel enthusiastic about competing, and other days, she would have doubt.
“Towards the end of it, when we got closer, and we were already there, I was like, ‘OK, it’s time. It’s time to show out and show everybody what UTRGV is made of.’”
Coach Lora Solis was also nervous the months before competition. She said in her seven years of coaching at the university level, this was the most prepared team for nationals she ever had. She knew her team of 26 cheerleaders, six drumline members and mascot were ready to give it their best.
“It was nerve-racking but it was good nerves,” Solis said.
Then came Jan. 17, the day of competition. At 6 a.m., the 33 team members woke up early to practice, just as they had for months straight. At 12:20 p.m., it was time.
“They were motivated, ready to do it, for not only themselves, but for the people that were on the mat with them,” Solis said.
The team performed the routine they had practiced over and over. A mix of high kicks, jumps, flags, the Vaquero mascot dancing and more creative stunts. With this performance, they advanced to finals. They competed again at 7:35 p.m., when they gave another winning show. Later that night, it was announced that their hard work, their dedication, their love for cheering had been worth it. The UTRGV Cheer Team had placed second in the National Championship.
“They were hungry for the win this year,” Spirit Adviser Janet Peña said. “They are a younger team, combined with some veterans … but they were hungry for the win and hungry to go perform in front of a national audience.”
This year was also the first time the Vaquero mascot and drumline performed with the cheerleaders. After seeing another team with a drumline place higher last year, Solis was inspired to bring one for the team. The other teams that took drumlines with them this year also advanced to finals.
“Mascot and drumline are added to enhance the routine, not to take away from the routine and not to make it about themselves,” Solis said. “It did bring a new energy, so it was great.”
In the last four years, the UTRGV Cheer Team has advanced to Nationals. Last year, they placed fifth. This is the first time they made it to the top three.
As for what’s next for the team, the season is not over. It will continue to cheer for volleyball, basketball and soon, baseball games.
As a qualification for Nationals, the team must attend training camp during summers.
“We don’t have an off-season,” Solis said.
Later in the semester, there will be tryouts for new team members. Two years of varsity, experience with tumbling at an advanced or elite level and a minimum of a 2.5 GPA is required to become a cheerleader, dance member or to be part of the mascot program, Solis said.
Ramos encourages students who are interested in the spirit program to sign up. She said the benefits are not only learning responsibility and time management, but also finding a family.
“Go for it,” Ramos said. “It is one of the best things in the world. You meet people you could totally consider your best friends and your family. … It’s the best thing ever.”
For more information, contact Solis at lora.solis@utrgv.edu.
